Princeton University
He is the first Princeton alum to be named manager of a Major League team.
Venable had recently served as associate manager with the Texas Rangers for the previous two seasons, helping the Rangers to the 2023 World Series. He also spent time as a coach for the Boston Red Sox and with the Chicago Cubs.
“This is a great opportunity with a White Sox organization that is putting a lot of good things into place and laying a solid foundation for the future,” Venable said in a statement from the White Sox. “It’s exciting to be part of that process to help get back to the type of baseball White Sox fans are used to seeing. We want players who show up to work hard every day, but also smart baseball players who understand the nuances of the game. There is a rich tradition here and a fanbase that deserves winning baseball, and I am excited to do whatever I can to help.”
Venable came to Princeton as a basketball player, and his remarkable career saw him record over 1,000 points (1,010), post 155 steals and 253 assists. He was a first-team All-Ivy League selection as a junior, when he led Princeton to a 13-1 Ivy record and the league championship. He was a second-team selection as a senior.
The former Tiger returned to baseball only as sophomore, after two years away from the sport. He would hit .344 with 20 RBIs as a junior and then .385 with nine home runs, 33 RBIs and 35 runs scored as a senior, when he earned first-team All-Ivy League honors.
Venable completed his nine-year Big League career with three teams, finishing with a .249/.315/.404 slash line in 918 games. He had 81 home runs, 307 RBI and stole 135 bases. He became the 25th Princetonian to appear in a Major League Baseball game and the first position player to appear since John Easton appeared in three games for the Phillies in 1959 when he made his debut for the San Diego Padres in 2008.
“I am so very proud of Will,” said Princeton head coach Scott Bradley. “He is such a special young man from a great family! I have watched him grow from his time as a two-sport athlete here at Princeton, to his Major League career, to his coaching career, to his role as a husband and father and now to becoming the manager of the Chicago White Sox. I am even more excited that he will manage a team that I played for.”
Ready to get to work pic.twitter.com/60Gx2ANHNi
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 31, 2024
Laying the groundwork for the future pic.twitter.com/nJIVZ27ZYf
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 31, 2024
