CHICAGO – Chris Denorfia and Will Venable have a strong friendship dating back to when they were players with the Padres' organization from 2010-14.
But when Venable was hired as White Sox manager before the ‘25 season, Denorfia made a promise to his one-time teammate concerning future employment possibilities.
“I told Will the day he got this job when I congratulated him, I said, ‘I want to take this off the table. I will never ask you for a job. I don’t want to put that strain on our friendship,’” said Denorfia during a Thursday morning Zoom. “I told him, ‘If you ever have a need for me, I will be there for you in a heartbeat, but just know that I’m never going to ask you for a job.’
“Friendships are too rare, especially in baseball long term. I didn’t want to put that in jeopardy.”
Denorfia didn’t have to ask. The White Sox went in search of the 45-year-old, who will take over as Major League field coordinator and become one of seven new hires to Venable’s second staff as announced on Wednesday. Hitting coach Derek Shomon and pitching coach Zach Bove are part of that group but were previously named to their positions on Nov. 7 and Nov. 4, respectively.
Bobby Hearn, 29, is the new assistant pitching coach, joining Bove and bullpen coach Matt Wise. José Leger, 43, takes over as first base and outfield coach, while Tony Medina, 32, moves into the role of Major League assistant. Bennett Markinson, who comes straight from his playing days at Northwestern University at 22, assumes the role of bullpen catcher.
- Bench Coach: Walker McKinven
- Pitching Coach: Zach Bove
- Assistant Pitching Coach: Bobby Hearn
- Bullpen Coach: Matt Wise
- Hitting Coach: Derek Shomon
- Assistant Hitting Coach: Joel McKeithan
- First Base/Outfield Coach: José Leger
- Third Base/Infield Coach: Justin Jirschele
- Major League Field Coordinator: Chris Denorfia
- Bullpen Catcher: Bennett Markinson
- Bullpen Catcher: Luis Sierra
- Major League Assistant: Tony Medina
“Definitely a good opportunity that it was hard for me to pass,” said Leger, who currently is managing Gigantes del Cibao in the Dominican Winter League. “Just joining an organization that is extremely young and eager to grow. So being part of this is a pleasure.
“My first time in the big leagues, my first interview, my first opportunity. So I’m grateful for it and definitely looking forward to working with this group of guys.”
Hearn spent the last two seasons with the Twins, serving as assistant pitching coordinator in 2025 and complex pitching coordinator in 2024 in his second stint with the organization. He worked at Davidson College in 2023 as a pitching coach and recruiting coordinator for pitching, beginning his coaching career with the Twins as a Florida Complex League pitching coach from 2021-22.
He joined High-A Cedar Rapids for the second half of the 2022 season and served on the coaching staff for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the 2022 Arizona Fall League. Hearn also pitched at Wake Forest from 2016-20, where he was teammates as a senior with right-hander Shane Smith, a 2025 All-Star hurler for the White Sox.
Leger spent the last eight seasons in the Cardinals’ organization, serving as assistant field and baserunning coordinator in 2025, Double-A Springfield manager from 2021-24 and Latin American field and academy development coordinator at the Dominican complex from 2018-20. Leger guided Springfield to Texas League playoff berths in 2023 and 2024. Prior to joining the Cardinals, Leger managed at three levels in the Mets’ organization from 2010-17.
Denorfia spent the last five seasons with the Rockies, serving as the organization’s outfield and baserunning coordinator from 2024-25 after managing Double-A Hartford from 2021-23. After retiring as a player in 2017, Denorfia spent the 2018 season as a special assistant to the president/general manager before joining the Cubs’ Major League staff in 2019 as the quality assurance coach.
Now, he’s reunited with Venable, trying to bring the White Sox to the same level he reached with the 2015 Cubs, who made it to the National League Championship Series during Denorfia’s final big league stint.
“What a special industry we get to work in, and it's kind of rare when you get to actually work with one of your best friends,” Denorfia said. “So it's an opportunity I'm not taking lightly, and I'm very, very thankful for. Will and his family mean the world to myself and my family.”