As the Chicago White Sox endure one of their worst seasons in franchise history, changes are looming on the horizon. With a dismal 21-57 record and sitting at the bottom of the MLB standings, the future of manager Pedro Grifol is in question.
According to a recent report from USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the White Sox are considering Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a potential replacement for Grifol in 2025.
“While Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol’s future is uncertain past this season, one name that is floating around internally as a potential replacement in 2025 is Skip Schumaker, manager of the Miami Marlins,” Nightengale wrote.
Schumaker, 44, is currently managing the Marlins, who also find themselves at the bottom of the standings with the second-worst record in baseball at 26-50. A former fifth-round pick in the 2001 MLB draft, Schumaker played 11 seasons in the majors, primarily with the St. Louis Cardinals under former White Sox manager Tony La Russa. La Russa, according to Nightengale, will play a significant role in the decision-making process for the White Sox’s managerial position.
After retiring as a player, Schumaker began his coaching career with the San Diego Padres in 2017, eventually becoming the associate manager in 2020. He later served as the bench coach for the Cardinals in 2021 before taking over as the Marlins manager in 2022.
Grifol, managing his second season with the White Sox, has faced increasing speculation about his job security amid the team’s struggles. He currently holds a 76-147 record as the team’s skipper. Despite the challenges, Grifol remains focused on his responsibilities.
“That’s part of the job. Right? I don’t focus on that stuff. It’s a part of the job,” Grifol said. “We’re not winning. So when you’re not winning, speculation gets higher and higher. It’s a part of what we do. We get signed up to win baseball games. And when you don’t, there’s always a possibility of a change being made.”
Grifol joined the White Sox after spending several years with the Kansas City Royals organization in various roles, including bench coach, assistant hitting coach, and catching instructor. Despite the team’s struggles and the departure of the general manager Rick Hahn and Vice President Kenny Williams, who hired him, Grifol remains dedicated to his current role.
“I don’t make those decisions. And I’m certainly not gonna worry about it,” Grifol said. “My concern is making sure this team is ready to play tonight, making adjustments from yesterday, and trying to see if we can snap this losing streak. That’s no fun. Extremely painful because we’ve lost some painful games. But I’m certainly not gonna make this about me and my future here. I’m not gonna decide that anyway. I don’t make those decisions.”
As the White Sox look to turn their fortunes around, the possibility of a new managerial direction with Schumaker at the helm in 2025 looms large.
