What happened: Major League Baseball named Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable the American League Manager of the Year on Wednesday. Venable led Chicago to an 84-win regular season and the franchise's first postseason berth since 2021.
Why it matters: The honor caps a rapid franchise turnaround for the Chicago White Sox after setting an MLB record with 121 losses in 2024. Venable trimmed that total to 102 losses in his debut year before guiding the club back above .500 in his second season.
By the numbers: Chicago transitioned from an MLB-record 121 losses in 2024 to 102 defeats in 2025 and 84 victories in 2026, ending a four-year postseason absence.
What to watch: The White Sox head into the offseason focused on roster additions ahead of the upcoming 2027 season.