The staff under new Chicago White Sox manager Will Venable is taking shape with Walker McKinven hired as the team’s bench coach.
McKinven, 35, comes from the staff of the Milwaukee Brewers, where the former minor league pitcher worked as the club’s run-prevention coordinator. The Chicago-area native had a game-planning role under manager Pat Murphy and had been with Milwaukee for nine seasons.
Venable was announced as the new White Sox manager on Nov. 8. He replaced former manager Pedro Grifol, who was fired last season along with three members of the coaching staff, including bench coach Charlie Montoyo. Grady Sizemore finished the season as interim manager.
McKinven’s addition comes after Ryan Fuller was hired last week as the White Sox’s director of hitting. Fuller, 34, was a co-hitting coach the past three seasons for the Baltimore Orioles.