Will Venable’s 2026 MLB Manager of the Year win caps White Sox turnaround

Venable earns top honor

Venable joins Tony La Russa, Jeff Torborg, Gene Lamont, Jerry Manuel and Ozzie Guillen as White Sox winners. Guillen was the franchise’s most recent recipient, in 2005. Venable also won the Sporting News version of the award a few weeks earlier.

A difficult season transformed

Chicago ended its streak of three consecutive seasons with at least 100 losses and secured its first postseason berth in five years. The White Sox also came close to winning the AL Central, but the Cleveland Guardians took the division in the final weeks.

The team improved by 24 games under Venable, who was in his second season as manager. The roster featured productive rookies, while the starting pitchers often did not work deep into games.

Rivals had strong cases

Cash guided Tampa Bay to the American League’s best record. Tracy took over the Red Sox midway through the season, then helped the club recover from a record well below .500 and finish with a lengthy winning streak that secured a playoff spot.

Even so, Venable’s work lifting Chicago from a prolonged slump stood out to award voters. The account says voters focused on the team’s results, including its improvement and postseason qualification.

Building on the breakthrough

Some fans criticized Venable’s lineups and decisions during games, while others viewed his appointment as a fresh face rising through the ranks. The account says voters often favor newer managers and notes that Venable led a young group.

Venable had been considered the best available candidate when Chicago hired him, and the season has raised expectations for what comes next. He is expected to lead the team’s core as it tries to advance further.