Will Venable wins AL managerial award after White Sox return to playoffs
Chicago finished 84-78 in 2026 following three straight 100-loss seasons, reaching the postseason for the first time since 2021.
Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable won the American League Manager of the Year award after guiding the team to 84 victories in 2026 and a playoff berth. He is the sixth White Sox manager to receive the honor, and the first since Ozzie Guillen in 2005.
In voting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Venable collected 111 points, including 15 first-place votes. Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash placed second with 98 points and 12 first-place votes. Boston Red Sox manager Chad Tracy took third with 47 points.
Chicago’s 84-78 finish followed three consecutive seasons with 100 losses, including 102 losses during Venable’s first year in charge in 2025. According to Elias, no team had previously won as many games immediately after three straight 100-loss seasons.
STATS said Chicago joined the 2024 Kansas City Royals, 2020 Miami Marlins and 2017 Minnesota Twins as the only teams to make the playoffs a season after losing 100 games.
The White Sox fielded 19 rookies, among them Munetaka Murakami and Sam Antonacci. Chicago scored an AL-leading 776 runs and ranked third in the league with 221 home runs. Ten of its relievers recorded at least one save.
Chicago eliminated the Houston Astros in the American League Wild Card Series before falling to the Cleveland Guardians in five games in the American League Division Series. Venable said the playoff appearance was his proudest accomplishment of the season, crediting players for believing they could qualify.
