The Chicago White Sox have announced their player development staff and assignments under new director of player development, Paul Janish. Janish was named to the position on November 2, 2023. This is his first season overseeing the franchise’s minor league operations and player development system. The 41-year-old former infielder played parts of ten major league seasons with the Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles. He was previously the associate head coach at his lama mater; Rice University.
“We are very excited to add paul to our baseball operations team as director of player development,” Getz said in a statement. “With 13 years in professional baseball, including nine in the major leagues, and another six years at Rice University where he served as associate head coach, Paul brings a wealth of experience to our organization. He has lived every step of the development ladder, from being a National Champion player at Rice, to being drafted, reaching the majors and then coaching successfully at a high-level program like Rice. We are pleased to heave him take the next step in his career with the White Sox and welcome him into the organization to lead our development system.”
“Our entire staff has been working all off-season to ensure our players will be ready to hit the ground running for mini camps, spring training and into the regular season,” Janish said. “The ultimate goal remains to have our players prepared and ready to contribute at the major-league level, and we believe this staff is well equipped to help all of our players reach his full potential.”
Justin Jirschele (Triple-A Charlotte), Sergio Santos (Double-A Birmingham), Guillermo Quiroz (Advanced-A Winston-Salem), Patrick Leyland (Class A Kannapolis) and Danny González (Arizona Complex League Sox) will serve as the White Sox’ minor league managers in 2024. Jirschele, Quiroz, Leyland and González all return to their positions following last season. Santos, a former Sox relief pitcher from 2010-11, managed two seasons in the Yankees system, including Advanced-A Hudson Valley in 2023. He re-joins the organization in a managerial role.
Fomer big league Alan Zinter is joining the organization as minor league hitting coordinator; replacing Andy Barkett. He’s spent time as a big league hitting coach with the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds. He served as assistant director of player development, focused on hitters with the San Francisco Giants in 2018 and 2019. Zinter was selected in the first round of the 1989 MLB Draft by the New York Mets. Returning coordinators include Doug Sisson (field), Matt Zaleski (pitching), Ryan Newman (infield) and Julio Mosquera (catching). Former bullpen coach Curt Hasler joins Donnie Veal as assistant pitching coordinators.
Under returning manager Justin Jirschele in Charlotte, the Knights will add veteran bench coach Pat Listach and former Tampa Bay Rays minor league pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein as the new pitching coach in Triple-A. Listach is a former big league player and he’s managed in the minors while serving as a coach in the majors. Lichtenstein joins the organization after serving as the pitching coach for Bowling Green last season.
Darius Day will make his professional coaching debut as the bench coach in High-A with the Winston-Salem Dash. Day is a graduate of the White Sox’ Amateur City Elite (ACE) Program and he attended Simeon Career Academy. He was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014 and played in 169 minor league contests. Some new staff members have been added in other capacities as well.
Player Development Staff
- Director of Player Development: Paul Janish
- Director of Minor League Administration: Kathy Potoski
- Assistant Director, Baseball Operations: Graham Harboe
- Manager, Player Development/International Operations: Grant Flick
- Assistant, Player Development/Video: Jack Larimer
- Manager, Player Development Latin America Operations: Louis Silverio
- Manager, International Player Development/Education: Erin Santana
Instructors and Rovers
- Field Coordinator: Doug Sisson
- Assistant Field Coordinator: Justin Jirschele
- Pitching Coordinator: Matt Zaleski
- Assistant Pitching Coordinator: Curt Hasler
- Assistant Pitching Coordinator: Donnie Veal
- Pitching Advisor: J.R. Perdew
- Hitting Coordinator: Alan Zinter
- Assistant Hitting Coordinator: Danny Santin
- Infield Coordinator: Ryan Newman
- Catching Coordinator: Julio Mosquera
- Assistant Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator: Mike Daniel
- Rehab Pitching Coach: Hiram Burgos
- Hitting Initiatives: Devin DeYoung
- Biomechanist: Jason Hashimoto
Medical Staff
- Medical Coordinator: Scott Takao
- Physical Therapy Coordinator: Brooks Klein
- Performance Coordinator: Gage Crosgrove
- Assistant Performance Coordinator: Sergio Rojas
- Physical Therapist/Athletic Trainer: Katie Stone
- Physical Therapist: Evan Jurjevic
- Sports Psychologist: Dr. Rob Seifer
Arizona Operations
- Facility Manager: Joe Lachcik
- Minor League Clubhouse Manager: Dan Flood
- Assistant Minor League Clubhouse Manager: Bryant Biasotti
Charlotte Knights (Triple-A)
- Manager: Justin Jirschele
- Pitching Coach: R.C. Lichtenstein
- Hitting Coach: Cam Seitzer
- Bench Coach: Pat Listach
- Trainer: Hyeon Kim
- Performance Coach: George Timke
Birmingham Barons (Double-A)
- Manager: Sergio Santos
- Pitching Coach: John Ely
- Hitting Coach: Nicky Delmonico
- Bench Coach: Ángel Rosario
- Trainer: Carson Wooten
- Performance Coach: Juan Maldonado
Winston-Salem Dash (High-A)
- Manager: Guillermo Quiroz
- Pitching Coach: John Kovalik
- Hitting Coach: Jim Rickon
- Bench Coach: Darius Day
- Trainer: A.J. Smith
- Performance Coach: Logan Jones
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Low-A)
- Manager: Patrick Leyland
- Pitching Coach: Blake Hickman
- Hitting Coach: Charlie Romero
- Bench Coach: Daniel Milwee
- Trainer: Chaerin Yeom
- Performance Coach: Donovan Clark
Arizona Complex League White Sox (Rookie)
- Manager: Daniel González
- Pitching Coach: Jacob Dorris
- Hitting Coach: Gerardo Olivares
- Assistant Hitting Coach: Mike Gellinger
- Development Coach: Nausel Cabrera
- Trainer: Jeremy Kneebusch
- Performance: Siera Weathers
Dominican Republic Academy/DSL White Sox (Rookie
- Field Coordinator: Julio Bruno
- Manager, Complex Operations: Wellington Morrobel
- Manager, Administration: Carolina Santos
- Manager: Anthony Núñez
- Pitching Coach: José Brito
- Assistant Pitching Coach: Stolmy Pimentel
- Infield Coach: Guillermo Reyes
- Assistant Hitting Coach/Catching Coach: Moisés Núñez
- Coach: Ángel González
- Trainer: Gustavo De La Cruz
- Assistant Trainer: Estarlin Rosario
- Performance Coach: Fran Batista
- Assistant Performance Coach: Carlos Javier
- Video Coordinator: Miguel Perez
- Lead Educator: Pablo Frías
- Education Assistant: Luis Villar
I was hoping for more structural change. Comparing versus last year’s staff, the only ones I can find:
1. Bench coach at every full-season level
2. Performance Coordinators moved to Medical Staff
3. Extra pitching coach added in DR
4. Educators added in DR (or are they just now being given titles?)
And I guess we can count this one:
5. Elimination of the position “Assistant Director, Player Development”, previously held by Kenny Williams Jr.