Pedro Grifol was among the many first names to floor in stories when the Chicago White Sox started on the lookout for their subsequent supervisor.
The search ended Tuesday with the 52-year-old Grifol in line to fill the place.
Grifol’s résumé contains spending the final three seasons because the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. He will stay within the division, seeking to get the Sox again to the highest of the American League Central after they stumbled to second place and an 81-81 report this season.
Here are three numbers of observe.
10
When the Sox began the method of discovering their subsequent skipper, normal supervisor Rick Hahn famous: “We are eager to use this opportunity to get some outside perspectives on this club and ways we can get better.”
Grifol has seen the Sox loads of occasions from the opposing dugout, having spent the final 10 seasons within the Royals group.
Some of his roles included being the hitting coach (2013-14), catching coach (2014-17) and high quality management/catching coach (2018-19) earlier than changing into the bench coach in 2020.
The Sox received 9 of the ten video games in opposition to the Royals in the course of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, however the final two years have been a special story.
The Sox largely dominated the AL Central in 2021 on the best way to successful their first division title since 2008: They went 44-32 in opposition to the remainder of the Central, ending with a successful report in opposition to three of their 4 division foes. The solely division opponent to win the season sequence? The Royals, who 10-9 in opposition to the Sox.
And it wasn’t that the Royals had been a juggernaut. They completed 74-88 that season, 19 video games behind the Sox within the standings.
The Royals took a step again this season, putting final within the AL Central at 65-97. They nonetheless had been a ache to the Sox, once more successful 10 of the 19 conferences regardless of being outscored 74-71.
The Sox went 37-39 in opposition to the AL Central this season. While a change to the schedule means fewer video games in opposition to the Royals, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins in 2023 — 14 every as an alternative of 19 — the trail to the Central title stays having success within the division.
4
Grifol has aided one Sox nemesis: Salvador Perez, who received 4 of his 5 Gold Glove awards (2014-16, 2018) whereas Grifol served as catching coach.
“I want to give thanks to God for blessing me every day, my family and my coach Pedro Grifol,” Perez stated after incomes the dignity in 2018, based on MLB.com. “They all have been a huge part of my success and accomplishments in my career. Without their help and support, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today.”
Perez didn’t commit an error in 96 video games that season. He threw out 25 of 52 tried stolen bases.
The Sox had points slowing down the operating sport in 2021, with opponents stealing 119 bases whereas being caught 24 occasions. Opponents stole 96 bases and had been caught 26 occasions in 2022.
Controlling the run sport — significantly with an aggressive Guardians staff (second within the AL with 119 steals in 2022) successful the AL Central — can be an space to deal with.
83
Before becoming a member of the Royals in 2013, initially because the hitting coach for the staff’s rookie membership in Surprise, Ariz., Grifol spent 13 seasons with Seattle Mariners group.
He was the supervisor for his or her Class A staff High Desert within the California League in 2012, going 83-57.
Grifol managed for Seattle’s Short Class A staff Everett within the Northwest League from 2003-05. Everett’s 2003 staff included pitcher Félix Hernández, who was 17 on the time, and had successful data in 2004 and ‘05.
Grifol additionally managed Cardenales de Lara within the Venezuelan Winter League for 3 seasons (2010-13) and San Francisco de Macorís within the Dominican Winter League for one season (2018-19).
His major-league alternative awaits with the Sox.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com