Will Venable’s dominant position in the AL Manager of the Year market stems from the Chicago White Sox’s historic 24-win improvement to an 84-78 record and playoff berth in 2026, following three consecutive 100-loss seasons. The second-year skipper guided a young roster featuring numerous rookies to the top of the AL Central for 96 days, the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2021, and a Wild Card sweep before an ALDS loss. Venable already earned the peer-voted Sporting News AL Manager of the Year honor and stands as one of three BBWAA finalists alongside Kevin Cash and Chad Tracy. The scale of the turnaround from a 60-102 mark in 2025 sets him apart in regular-season voting. Outcomes could shift only if writers heavily weight division titles or midseason interim success over the unprecedented rebuilding narrative.