The White Sox finalized their 2026 coaching staff today, and for once, it feels like there's actual momentum on the South Side.
Not the manufactured kind that comes from spin and press releases. Real momentum. The kind built on tangible pieces falling into place.
Just over a week ago, the White Sox won the draft lottery and secured the number one overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft—their first top selection since taking Hall of Famer Harold Baines in 1977. Now, with Will Venable's coaching staff complete, the organization has the infrastructure and the asset that could accelerate a rebuild that desperately needs to show signs of life.
But here's the thing about momentum: it only matters if you capitalize on it.
A Staff That Actually Looks Like a Plan
The White Sox announced five additions to complete Venable's 12-person coaching staff—an increase from the 11 they carried last season. That's not just a roster adjustment. It's a signal that the organization is finally investing in the structure needed to develop young talent.
Leading the new hires is Bobby Hearn, the 29-year-old assistant pitching coach who spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Twins. Hearn brings a modern, data-driven approach that's been praised across the industry, and his connection to Shane Smith—they were teammates at Wake Forest—adds a layer of familiarity that could pay dividends as Smith continues his development.
José Leger joins as first base and outfield coach after eight seasons in the Cardinals organization, where he managed Double-A Springfield to back-to-back playoff appearances. Chris Denorfia, a former big leaguer who played alongside Venable in San Diego, comes aboard as major league field coordinator after five years with the Rockies.
Rounding out the new additions are Tony Medina, a major league assistant with analytics experience across multiple organizations, and Bennett Markinson, a 22-year-old former Northwestern catcher who brings a fresh perspective as a bullpen catcher.
What stands out isn't just the names—it's the blend. Analytics and experience. Youth and institutional knowledge. Connections to Venable and connections to the players already on the roster.
This isn't a staff thrown together to check boxes. It looks like a staff built with intention.
Venable's Fingerprints Are All Over This
Several coaches return from last season, including bench coach Walker McKinven, bullpen coach Matt Wise, and third base coach Justin Jirschele. But the overhaul at key positions—pitching coach Zach Bove replaced Ethan Katz in November, hitting coach Derek Shomon came over from Miami—shows that Venable isn't just inheriting a structure. He's building his own.
That matters.
In year one, Venable took a 102-loss team and improved them by 19 games. He integrated analytics without alienating veterans. He held a young clubhouse together through a brutal season and came out the other side with credibility.
Now, in year two, he has the staff he wants and the flexibility to develop players his way.
If this rebuild is going to work, Venable is the kind of manager who can make it happen. But he can't do it alone.
The Draft Pick That Changes Everything
Winning the draft lottery wasn't just good fortune—it was validation.
After finishing with the second-worst record in baseball at 60-102, the White Sox entered the lottery with the best odds at the number one pick. At 27.73 percent, it was far from guaranteed. The previous three lotteries hadn't rewarded the team with the highest odds.
But the ping-pong balls bounced Chicago's way, and now Chris Getz has the kind of asset that can define a rebuild.
UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky is the consensus top prospect in the 2026 draft class. He's been called the best all-around college shortstop in 20 years—a player with four plus tools who hit 23 home runs with a 1.190 OPS as a sophomore. Evaluators have compared him to Dansby Swanson and Troy Tulowitzki.
That's the kind of talent that accelerates timelines.
The White Sox already have promising shortstops in the system—Colson Montgomery hit 21 home runs in 71 games as a rookie last season, and Billy Carlson was the 10th overall pick in 2025. But when you have the number one pick, you take the best player available. You don't pass on generational talent because of positional concerns two or three years down the line.
Having too many good shortstops is a problem Getz should welcome.
The Real Test Is What Comes Next
A strong coaching staff and the top pick in the draft are great starting points. But they're only starting points.
The White Sox have been here before—not with this exact setup, but with optimism that felt real until it wasn't. Prospects who didn't pan out. Coaching changes that didn't matter. Organizational plans that looked good on paper but never materialized into October baseball.
What makes this moment different is the alignment. Venable has proven he can develop young talent. The coaching staff reflects a clear philosophy. The number one pick gives the organization a cornerstone piece that can anchor the rebuild.
But none of it matters if Getz doesn't follow through.
This offseason and next summer's draft aren't just opportunities—they're litmus tests. Will the White Sox be aggressive in adding the complementary pieces this roster needs? Will they develop the young talent they've accumulated? Will they make the tough decisions required to turn potential into production?
A City That's Ready to Believe Again
South Side fans have been patient. More patient than they probably should be.
They've watched the crosstown Cubs thread the needle for years while the White Sox spiraled into irrelevance. They've endured rebuild after rebuild, each one promising to be "the right way" until it quietly fizzled out.
But patience has limits.
The pieces are finally starting to come together. A respected manager. A modern coaching staff. The top pick in a loaded draft class. Young talent like Montgomery and Shane Smith showing flashes of what could be.
Now it's on the front office to prove they're serious. To show that this rebuild isn't just about staying afloat—it's about building something sustainable. Something competitive. Something that gives fans a reason to show up in July, not just April.
The foundation is there. The blueprint exists.
The only question left is whether Chris Getz and this organization have the conviction to see it through.
Because the South Side is ready. The coaching staff is ready. The number one pick will be there in July.
Now it's time for the White Sox to prove they're ready too.