White Sox add Marcus Thames, Grady Sizemore to staff

 

[November 08, 2023]  The Chicago White Sox have filled out their coaching staff for 2024 with the hires of Grady Sizemore as major league coach and Marcus Thames as hitting coach.

The team announced its major league coaching staff under second-year manager Pedro Grifol.

Joining Sizemore and Thames as new to the organization are assistant pitching coach Matt Wise, first base/outfield coach Jason Bourgeois and catching coach Drew Butera.

Bench coach Charlie Montoyo, pitching coach Ethan Katz, assistant hitting coach Mike Tosar and third base/infield coach Eddie Rodriguez are returning to the staff.
 

Sizemore, 41, played 10 seasons in the majors starting in 2004 with the Cleveland Guardians. His early years were most successful, with a streak of four consecutive seasons earning AL MVP votes, earning three All-Star appearances, two Gold Gloves and a Silver Slugger during that span.

Injuries interrupted the later years of his career. Sizemore was out of baseball for all of 2012 and 2013 but returned to play for the Boston Red Sox (2014), Philadelphia Phillies (2014-15) and Tampa Bay Rays (2015) before hanging up the cleats for good in 2015.

He became an adviser in the Cleveland Guardians' player development department in 2017 but this will be the first on-field role for Sizemore since his playing days.

Thames replaced Jose Castro, who was fired after one season on the White Sox coaching staff. This will be the fourth team for which Thames has served as hitting coach in as many years.

Most recently, Thames spent the 2023 season as the Angels' hitting coach. He was with the Miami Marlins in 2022 and the New York Yankees from 2018-21 after serving as the Yankees' assistant hitting coach from 2016-17.

Thames, 46, had a playing career that spanned 640 games with the Yankees (2002, 2010), Texas Rangers (2003), Detroit Tigers (2004-09) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2011). He hit 115 home runs and batted .246/.309/.485.

Wise, 47, was the Los Angeles Angels' pitching coach the past three seasons after serving as bullpen coach in 2020. He and Katz were together in the Angels system from 2013-15.

He appeared in 209 games (18 starts) over parts of eight seasons with the Angels (2000-02), Milwaukee Brewers (2004-07) and New York Mets (2008).

Bourgeois, 41, spent the past five seasons with the Dodgers, including the outfield and baserunning coordinator in 2012-23. He played in 317 major league games over parts of eight seasons with the White Sox (2008), Brewers (2009), Houston Astros (2010-11), Kansas City Royals (2012), Rays (2013) and Cincinnati Reds (2014-15).

Butera, 40, was the Angels' catching coordinator in 2023 and a bullpen catcher in 2022. He played parts of 12 seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2010-13), Dodgers (2013-14), Angels (2015, 2021), Royals (2015-18) and Colorado Rockies (2018-20).

The hires continue a trend of big moves off the field for the White Sox this year. Longtime general manager Rick Hahn and executive vice president Kenny Williams were let go over the summer, and assistant GM Chris Getz was promoted to their positions.

--Field Level Media

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