Major changes are coming to the Chicago White Sox coaching staff.
The Sox will not renew the contracts of pitching coach Ethan Katz, hitting coach Marcus Thames, first-base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois and catching coach Drew Butera, the team announced Monday.
“While we greatly appreciate all that Ethan, Marcus, Jason and Drew have done for this organization, (manager) Will (Venable) and I have agreed on the very difficult decision to make several changes to our coaching staff in 2026,” general manager Chris Getz said in a statement.
“Our respect for these coaches as people and as professionals made these decisions difficult, and we thank them for their many contributions. Our commitment remains to provide the best possible vision, ideas and resources to our players to support their continuing growth and development.”
Katz had been the team’s pitching coach since 2021. Thames, Bourgeois and Butera were in their roles with the Sox each of the last two seasons.
“Decisions about the coaching staff are incredibly difficult because these are friends and teammates who have been through all the moments and trials alongside you,” Venable, who just completed his first season as the team’s manager, said in a statement. “I cannot thank each of them enough for the hard work and professionalism they brought to the ballpark daily.
“Ultimately, we have short-term and long-term goals and objectives for this organization and this team. Our responsibility is to put our players in the best position to grow and succeed, and that means always considering how our staff can best support the growth and success of our players. These choices are never easy, but they come from a deep commitment to giving our players the very best chance to reach our potential together.”
The Sox went 60-102 in 2025, their third consecutive 100-loss season.
They finished 28th in the majors in OPS (.675) but were much better after the All-Star break — ranking 13th (.727). The offense is filled with youth, featuring shortstop Colson Montgomery, infielder Chase Meidroth and catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. Meidroth and Teel came to the Sox in last December’s big trade that sent pitcher Garrett Crochet to the Boston Red Sox.
On the pitching front, the Sox ranked 20th in the majors with a 4.27 ERA. Shane Smith, a Rule 5 draft selection, emerged as the team’s All-Star.
The Sox said searches to fill the openings “begin immediately.”
Additionally, offensive coordinator Grady Sizemore will be offered a role within the organization for 2026.
Sizemore was on the major-league coaching staff in 2024 before becoming the interim manager for the final 45 games, going 13-32. He shifted to the offensive coordinator duties this season.
The Sox also will not renew the contract of Triple-A manager Sergio Santos. Santos guided Double-A Birmingham to the Southern League championship in 2024 and moved up to Charlotte in 2025.
