White Sox officially name Pedro Grifol as new manager

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Chicago White Sox officially named Pedro Grifol as their new manager on Thursday, replacing Tony La Russa, who retired last month.

Grifol, 52, spent the past 10 seasons with the Royals, most recently as bench coach, and helped guide Kansas City to the American League pennant in 2014 and a World Series championship in 2015.

White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said he could barely contain his excitement about bringing in Grifol as the new manager, coming off what was a grueling and disappointing 2022 season, when the team finished with a .500 record, after coming into the year as favorites to contend for the World Series.

"Today's a pretty exciting day around here. You may see me smiling a little bit more than you have over the past year, and gushing a little bit more than I have in the past year," he said.

In 2020, the White Sox returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2008 under manager Rick Renteria, who was fired after the team lost in the wild card round. After Tony La Russa took over as manager in 2021, the White Sox ran away with the AL Central title, before falling to the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Despite playing in the weakest division in baseball and beginning 2022 the season among the favorites to reach the World Series, the White Sox under La Russa weren't able to overcome a rash of injuries, or an offense that never found its power groove, with not a single batter hitting 20 home runs. They spent just eight days in first place and none after April 20. The team initially saw better results under La Russa's interim replacement, Miguel Cairo, but they weren't able to catch the Cleveland Guardians, who surged down the stretch, as the White Sox limped to the finish line with a .500 record. 

Hahn said, with Grifol's hiring, White Sox management believes the team is "taking a major step to putting ourselves back on track on the trajectory that we all felt we were on over the previous seasons prior to last season's disappointment."

"In Pedro, we are hiring someone who is a renowned communicator, a modern baseball mind who is seeking to build a cohesive and inclusive clubhouse environment, and one where the attention to detail and the accountability will be priorities," Hahn added.

Grifol described his interview process as "an amazing ride," and "a very detailed and thorough process full of great baseball conversations."

"I felt like we were back 20 years ago in the clubhouse, just talking baseball and strategy," he said.

Hahn said, after La Russa stepped down in October, the team's initial list of potential successors included 22 names, eventually swelling to about 30 candidates. The Sox then narrowed that list down to eight candidates who were interviewed, before a final round of interviews with a "few" finalists.

Grifol was the second of eight candidates who were interviewed, and Hahn said he clearly raised the bar for the others who were up for the job.

In a conversation with CBS 2 Sports Director Marshall Harris, Grifol said it was the connection he felt during his interview that sold him on the job. He also called the roster "extremely talented" and expects the team to compete right away.

"They're right there now," Grifol said. "They're ready to go. My expectations are, all I want to do is just concern ourselves with the process. Let's go out there an practice with intensity. Let's be fundamentally sound. Let's focus on winning baseball."

A Miami native and Cuban-American, the bilingual Grifol should be able to easily connect with the team's young Latin American stars such as Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, and Yoan Moncada.

Hahn confirmed the team also has hired former Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo as bench coach. The Sox also will keep Ethan Katz as pitching coach and Curt Hasler as bullpen coach.

The team will be conducting interviews to fill out the rest of Grifol's coaching staff. Hahn said some other existing White Sox coaches will be considered for Grifol's staff, but he expects most of the remaining coaching staff will come from outside the organization.

Before joining the Royals as a hitting coach in 2013, Grifol spent 13 seasons with the Seattle Mariners as a minor league coach and manager, and a scout.

He also spent three seasons managing in Venezuela, leading Cardenales de Lara to the 2013 championship in the Venezuelan Winter League; and one season managing in the Dominican Republic.

In:
• Chicago White Sox
• Pedro Grifol
• Tony La Russa