DALLAS -- Grady Sizemore won’t be calling plays, so to speak, as the offensive coordinator for the 2025 Chicago White Sox.
But in announcing the team’s 2025 Major League coaching staff under first-year manager Will Venable on Monday, the White Sox are excited to have their ‘24 interim manager for 45 games back in the fold.
“Gave him the title of offensive coordinator, a really cool role for him where he can impact our offensive strategy and set the tone for things we want to accomplish situationally and at the plate, on the bases,” said Venable of Sizemore during the Winter Meetings at the Hilton Anatole. “He’s going to help in lineup construction, will have input on our advance process offensively, feedback for our players and game planning.”
“I love the coaching staff,” White Sox general manager Chris Getz said. “They all have a diversified skill set, different backgrounds. I think it's a combination of talent, experience levels, energy, work ethic, all the things that go into a quality coaching staff that is going to work its way throughout the whole organization, quite honestly.”
The new staff holds a similar look to the 2024 group, with a few exceptions. Walker McKinven, 35, takes over as bench coach after spending the past five seasons as part of the Brewers’ coaching staff. The native of Evanston, Ill., was Milwaukee’s run prevention coordinator in ‘24. Joel McKeithan, 33, joins as the assistant hitting coach to returning hitting coach Marcus Thames, after working as the Reds’ hitting coach the last two seasons.
Pitching coach Ethan Katz (fifth season with White Sox), assistant pitching coach Matt Wise (second season), Thames (second season), first base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois (second season), third base/infield coach Justin Jirschele (second season) and catching coach Drew Butera (second season) return with Sizemore from the ‘24 staff. Jirschele, who has been part of the organization since ‘16, began last season as the Triple-A Charlotte manager.
Mike Gellinger and Doug Sisson, who were added to the 2024 coaching staff in August as assistant hitting coach and co-bench coach, respectively, will be reassigned within the White Sox organization.
Venable spoke of a collaborative effort with the front office every step of the way in picking the coaches. Sizemore not only helped rejuvenate the club on and off the field when he took over in ‘24 but also was in consideration for the managerial vacancy, leading to Sizemore and Venable having open conversations about staying on staff after the latter was hired.
In fact, Sizemore was one of the first people Venable talked to in his new role.
“He wanted to contribute in any way he could,” Venable said. “And I was excited about that and fitting him in to leverage his skill set toward the things we want to accomplish.”
The additions of McKeithan and director of hitting Ryan Fuller, along with Sizemore’s new role, leave the White Sox with four voices offensively at the big league level to help them improve after they were the worst team in baseball with the bats in ‘24, both statistically and by the eye test.
“You have to be aligned,” Venable said. “There has to be a singular voice. That’s something every group is challenged with, and our ability to communicate and be on the same page will be huge.”