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Will Venable of the Chicago White Sox Wins AL Manager of the Year Award – WTOP News
On Tuesday, Baseball Writers' Association of America voters named Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable the 2026 American League Manager of the Year, collecting 15 first-place votes and 111 total points.
Venable inherited a Chicago White Sox team that set a modern MLB record with 121 losses in 2024; two seasons later, the club achieved an 84-78 record and their first playoff berth in five years.
Improved play from homegrown talent and acquisitions fueled the turnaround; Japanese import Munetaka Murakami hit 35 home runs while the bullpen led the majors with 766 innings pitched, the most in franchise history.
General manager Chris Getz praised Venable's consistency and communication style, while pitcher Sean Burke credited him for letting the clubhouse identity form naturally without forcing direction on the team.
Venable is just the third manager since 1901 to oversee 19-plus win improvements in back-to-back seasons, joining Hall of Famers John McGraw and Miller Huggins in this rare historical achievement.