CHICAGO -- The date was Oct. 26, 2005, playing out more than 20 years ago, but new White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon has vivid recollections of that World Series-clinching moment for his team in Houston.
Shomon’s connection to the White Sox began in fandom before working his way through the ranks to replace Marcus Thames as the man in charge of the Chicago offense at the big league level.
“I still recall wearing all my White Sox gear that day and bringing a broom and dustpan to school, walking around the halls with it for that World Series,” Shomon said during a Friday Zoom after his hiring officially was announced. “It’s super special, man.
“This has always been home. I really haven’t lived anywhere else. Unbelievable opportunity. Grateful for it.”
Shomon, 35, joins pitching coach Zach Bove as this week's new additions to manager Will Venable’s staff. Sherman Johnson Jr. also was named as the organization’s hitting coordinator, with Joel McKeithan returning for a second season as the White Sox assistant hitting coach.
Friday’s announcement marks the sixth primary White Sox hitting coach to be employed since the run of excellence from Greg Walker ended in that position after the 2011 season. It’s a different look presently, with Ryan Fuller entering his second season as Chicago's director of hitting, delivering the universal philosophy and approach across the organization.
General manager Chris Getz took it a step further by placing the ultimate responsibility upon his position, not believing it’s fair to put the blame on one person when there’s a failure in the hitting or the pitching.
“From Day 1, it's really been about committing to building a foundation for this organization, and in doing so, it's making sure that we have systems built in each of these areas,” Getz said. “So the stronger we get, whether it be the hitting space or the pitching space, that should allow these guys to go out there and be more consistent in their roles because of what has been laid out in front of them.
“Our hope here is that everyone, certainly on this call and in the organization, can be here a long time. That means we're having a lot of success, we're continuing to develop players and we're winning more baseball games. And knowing that that's what we were looking to accomplish in this hiring process, we felt that Derek was the right fit at the Major League level."
Before joining the White Sox, Shomon spent the 2025 season as the assistant hitting coach for the Marlins. He worked from 2021-24 with the Twins, serving as the team’s assistant coach in 2023-24, the hitting coach for Double-A Wichita in 2022 and as the hitting coach for High-A Fort Myers in ‘21. He also worked in various roles for the local Schaumburg Boomers of the Frontier League, an MLB partner league, beginning as a bullpen catcher in 2012.
The native of Glenview, Ill, who graduated in 2008 from Glenbrook South High School, began his on-field career with the Northbrook Little League.
“My route to get here, some have described [it] as a never-ending knot that you’re trying to untie,” Shomon said. “People that know me, or know my stature, would say that [he] probably should have went with football. But baseball was such a challenge and one that I accepted, and I could not get enough of it.”
“Certainly Derek has the ability to have an understanding of what it is we want to do to help people get better,” Venable said. “Then he has the ability to build relationships to make those things happen and to leverage those relationships to help our players be the best version of themselves.”
A young but developing White Sox offense has been placed in front of Shomon, who is having daily conversations with McKeithan and Fuller, and intends to start talking with White Sox players this weekend. The group ranked eighth in baseball with 89 home runs over 65 second-half games, while scoring 315 runs.
It’s a challenge Shomon is thrilled to have. He had a moment in the home dugout at Rate Field about a week and a half ago, where he realized, “This is happening.” It’s quite a journey from celebrating the last White Sox playoff series win, let alone their last title, as a sophomore in high school.
“I’m back home,” Shomon said. “Then you don’t dwell on it too long. It’s immediately followed up with, 'We have to get to work,' and, 'What’s the next steps?'”
“He's very high-energy, very intelligent. He brings real grit to the position,” Getz said of Shomon. “His track record is strong, and his journey to this position is an impressive one.”