Grady Sizemore will join the White Sox next season as a part of manager Pedro Grifol’s coaching staff, reports Bruce Levine of 670 The Score. The two-time Gold Glove winner will take on a dual role as outfield and baserunning coach.
Chicago did not have a dedicated coach for either job last season, so Sizemore isn’t necessarily replacing anyone currently on staff. However, Levine notes that the White Sox will not announce their full coaching staff for 2024 until later this week.
The All-Star center fielder was one of the brightest young stars in baseball during the mid-2000s, earning MVP votes in four straight seasons from age 22 to 25. In addition to his power and plate discipline, he was a gifted defender and a threat on the bases; during his brief peak, he was one of the most highly-regarded outfield gloves and baserunners in the game. Unfortunately, injuries began to take their toll in his age-26 campaign, and Sizemore was never the same.
He played just 313 games from 2010-15, hitting for a .665 OPS and stealing just 13 bases in 21 attempts. Even his once-stellar glove became a liability, and he played his final game just two months after his 33rd birthday.
In 2017, Sizemore returned to baseball, joining Cleveland (his long-time team) as an advisor to the player development staff. However, his new job with the White Sox marks his official return to the dugout following the end of his playing career in 2015.
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