Will Venable framed the White Sox’s progress as a work in motion—built from better coaching alignment, sharper spring expectations, and a willingness to own failures—right as the team begins a pivotal series against the Guardians.
DETROIT — Braden Montgomery’s historic walk-off home run in his major-league debut against the Braves didn’t erase the mistakes that came with the moment. When White Sox manager Will Venable stepped to the podium, his stoic expression didn’t match the relief in the room.
“That’s a special debut. Needed it there on a day where situational execution honestly was a disaster,” Venable said.
He pointed to execution in tight, high-stakes spots—then took the responsibility himself. “The first safety [squeeze bunt], we weren’t able to execute,” he said. “The [Drew] Romo safety, that’s 100% on me, where you got [first baseman Matt] Olson crashing. My job is to put these guys in good situations to succeed. I should have let him swing away there after a couple pitches. So that one’s on me.”.
Venable wasn’t trying to dampen the night. He was happy for the victory and thrilled for Montgomery. But the admission landed the way it was meant to: as proof that in Venable’s second season as manager, learning the job is still part of the job.
For the White Sox, it’s also become part of the hope. Many players are learning alongside him. That mix of inexperience and upward momentum could be dangerous for teams that aren’t ready for the swings it produces. And with their biggest series in years beginning Monday at Rate Field against the Guardians—their first-place competitors in the American League Central—the timing feels heavier.
Venable spoke Sunday in the visiting manager’s office at Comerica Park. describing a season he wants to treat like a daily test he can’t fail. “I’m happy about where this whole thing’s at,” he said. “And I’m OK with whatever the result is. as long as we continue this process of coming to the ballpark with a good attitude. giving everything that we have. bringing a ton of energy. learning from our mistakes and the experiences in the game and doing the same thing the next day. That, for me, is what this is all about. I believe that has happened every day this year.”.
A big reason Venable believes that learning has been possible is the coaching staff he built in the offseason. He inherited much of former manager Pedro Grifol’s staff last season. but this time he surrounded himself with handpicked hires after what he described as a thorough vetting process. The effort was led by Sox director of leadership. culture and continuing education Brian Mahler and assistant general manager Josh Barfield.
Venable said alignment mattered—coaches who share the same ideas and skills, rather than trying to protect turf. He empowers his coaches to do their jobs, delegating and “knowing when to stay out of the way.”
“It [has to] be helpful. ” Venable said of the coaching group. naming pitching coach Zach Bove and hitting coach Derek Shomon alongside “all those other guys.” “We always talk about our group’s ability to continue to fight. continue to battle. and a lot of it has to do with the players that we have. but so much of it has to do with [the coaches]. What they do is really the driving force behind our team identity.”.
When asked about his own impact, Venable returned to the same theme. “I’ve been asked about my impact and all of that, and I always say that my impact on that is just allowing them to do their work because they’re such good coaches.”
The second year also gave him something first-year managers rarely get: clarity. Venable entered spring training with a better understanding of the Sox’ players. which he said let him set expectations more precisely. design practices with purpose. and devise strategy that fit the group instead of forcing a template.
“That’s the biggest thing,” Venable said. “I came into Year 1 with things that were important to me. and you say this is what we’re going to do. And maybe those things and how you go about it aren’t right for that group. and you have to adjust — having a better idea in Year 2 with this group of just what those details are that we want to prioritize.”.
After games, he said, support doesn’t stop at the clubhouse doors. Venable meets with coaches and front-office staff such as bench coach Walker McKinven and director of major-league strategy Graham Harboe to review decisions. He described the conversations as collaborative and open, not interrogations.
“That’s time where if there’s something that I think that I could’ve done better. we talk about it there. ” Venable said. “Sometimes other people will say, I didn’t even notice that or I think you did the right thing. We get through some of those things, whether they’re mistakes or not, postgame with the group.”.
He also emphasized the process itself—examining how decisions are made rather than only grading outcomes. Venable said he knows every decision won’t work and that he’ll make mistakes. But the point, he argued, is whether those experiences sharpen the process instead of simply stinging.
That framework came through in the game where Montgomery starred. Venable said the safety squeeze can be useful for the Sox. especially in parts of their order. and he acknowledged the information coming in on those plays. “There was different information as those plays were coming in, which it was appropriate for me to pivot,” he said. “That is part of again not being upset that it didn’t work or that we didn’t execute it. but the process by which I just didn’t make the adjustment.”.
“So learn from that and move on. It’s a process that never ends.”
All of it sits on a roster still figuring itself out—and on the scoreboard that has forced the Sox to absorb setbacks. After letting leads of two runs in the eighth, one run in the ninth and one in the 10th disappear, Chicago fell to the Tigers 5-4 on Sunday and got swept in the three-game series.
The day after, the losses carried the kind of rhythm that makes every correction feel urgent: the Sox had four hits, scored only on Sam Antonacci’s leadoff home run, in a 4-1 loss, and after that homer they didn’t get another hit until the seventh inning.
Even still. Venable’s willingness to keep revisiting the why—who did what. what information arrived. and what he should have done differently—has become a signature of how he’s trying to build a contender. In the second season of that approach. the next test starts Monday at Rate Field against a division rival already sitting in first place. the kind of opponent that punishes even small holes in situational execution.
Will Venable White Sox Guardians Braden Montgomery Matt Olson Drew Romo Zach Bove Derek Shomon Brian Mahler Josh Barfield Walker McKinven Graham Harboe American League Central