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Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable has been named a finalist for the American League Manager of the Year award by the BBWAA. Venable guided the youngest team in the American League to a playoff berth during a historic turnaround season.
A Historic Turnaround for the White Sox
The recognition comes shortly after Sporting News honored Venable with its own AL Manager of the Year award. The Chicago White Sox entered the season following three consecutive 100-loss campaigns, finishing the 2025 season at 60-102. Under Venable, the team improved its record by 24 games to finish 84-78, narrowly missing the AL Central title.
No team in Major League Baseball history had ever rebounded from multiple consecutive 100-loss seasons the way the White Sox did. The squad featured a roster full of rookies and a depleted starting rotation, yet swept their Wild Card series and pushed the Cleveland Guardians to a decisive Game 5 in the ALDS before bowing out.
Building Culture and Producing Offense
Venable fostered a positive atmosphere in the clubhouse and established a strong foundation of trust that translated to on-field success. Despite occasional growing pains from inexperience and rigid pitching matchups, the manager kept the team competitive following a difficult April.
Fifteen players made their major league debuts for Chicago this season, trailing only the San Francisco Giants and Toronto Blue Jays. Supported by a strong coaching staff, the White Sox developed into one of the league’s top offensive units. They ranked first in the American League and fifth in MLB in runs scored with 776 and RBIs with 740, while also hitting 211 home runs to rank second in the AL.
Finalists and Announcement Date
Venable is joined as a finalist by Kevin Cash of the Tampa Bay Rays and Chad Tracy of the Boston Red Sox. Cash guided the Rays to the American League pennant before losing to the Milwaukee Brewers in the World Series, while Tracy took over a struggling Boston squad following a coaching overhaul in April, leading them on a 15-game win streak in July and a Wild Card appearance.
The winner of the AL Manager of the Year award will be announced next Thursday, November 10.
