What to know about expected new Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable

Context: Venable is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who retired in 2016.

Here are 5 things to know about the next Sox skipper:

• Venable stopped playing in 2016 and was scooped up by then-Cubs general manager Theo Epstein to be an assistant in the GM's office. Since then, he's worked under managers Joe Maddon, Joey Cora and Bruce Bochy. He is also mentored by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. That's the Mt. Rushmore of recent managers.
• He is a baseball "nepo baby." Venable is the son of Max Venable, who had a short career with the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants in the 1980s. Will lived in Japan and the Dominican Republic while his dad played baseball there. Max went on to coach minor league baseball and was the hitting coach for Will in Portland. Will's brother Winston played in the NFL.
• Venable went to Princeton University to play basketball but switched to baseball. He has the most home runs of any Princeton alumni in big league history and he's the first Black player from the university to make the major leagues.

• Venable has managerial experience. In 2020, he subbed in for Red Sox manager Joey Cora when Cora had a high school graduation to attend. And in 2022, he subbed in again when Cora tested positive for COVID-19. He is 2-5 overall.
• For most of his career, he wore #25. That jersey number is currently worn by White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn.