Will Venable just pulled off one of the most insane turnarounds in recent memory, officially being named the 2026 American League Manager of the Year on Tuesday. This is a manager who took the Chicago White Sox from a measly 60-win season in 2025 and flipped them completely, leading them to a fairytale season that, while ending in the ALDS, proved he is for real.
From Last Place Expectations to AL Manager of the Year
Let’s just talk about the leap the White Sox made under Venable. In 2025, they were a 60-win team. One year later, they added 24 more wins to their total, finishing second in the AL Central after basically owning the division for most of the season. What’s wild is that before the 2026 season even started, everyone expected this team to be dead last in their division. That’s a massive shift in expectations, and Venable was the guy behind it. He beat out some serious competition for the award, too. Kevin Cash of the Rays had an AL-best 98 wins, and Chad Tracy saved the Red Sox from a brutal 10-17 start. But the voters didn’t care about just wins or a minor save. They went with the guy who orchestrated the biggest turnaround in all of baseball.
Venable’s Master Class in Pitching and Hitting
So, how did he do it? Venable played a seriously significant role in the White Sox’s rise, especially with their pitching. Their rotation was shaky, to put it lightly. But instead of just throwing his hands up, Venable got creative. He wasn’t afraid to roll with openers and bullpen games, doing whatever it took to give his team an edge on the mound. And it totally paid off. He also put his stamp on the offense. While the team had a collective breakout, Venable often utilized platoons, always putting his players in the absolute best position to succeed. It worked wonders. In 2025, the White Sox were 14th in the AL in runs scored. Fast forward to 2026, and they led the entire league with a whopping 776 runs scored. That’s not just an improvement, that’s a total offensive overhaul.
Even though MLB collects its end-of-year votes before the postseason kicks off, Venable kept showing off those skills when it mattered most. The White Sox went on a surprising playoff run, winning their first four postseason games. They swept the Astros in the wild-card round and even jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Guardians in the ALDS. And guess how many times they used a conventional starter in that incredible stretch? Just once. It just shows how much faith he had in his system and his bullpen.
This award isn’t just a pat on the back for Venable. It tells you everything you need to know about where the White Sox are heading. With Venable steering the ship, the team is absolutely poised for even more success in the years ahead. He proved himself big time in 2026, and you know he’s going to be out there in 2027 trying to show everyone that he and the White Sox are the real deal, not just a one-hit wonder. This story is just getting started.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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