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Former White Sox Players Land New Coaching Roles Across MLB
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- Former White Sox Players Land New Coaching Roles Across MLB
During Major League Baseball's GM Meetings in Las Vegas this week, several coaching staffs that were previously in flux are beginning to take shape for the 2026 season.
Over the last 24 hours alone, three former Chicago White Sox players have accepted new coaching jobs around the league.
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Here's a quick recap of the moves.
Travis Jankowski
Veteran outfielder Travis Jankowski signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox in March of 2025 and ended up cracking the Opening Day roster just a few weeks later.
He appeared in only seven games before being designated for assignment, sent down, and ultimately electing free agency. Jankowski would go on to play for both the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Mets during the 2025 season.
Now, it appears the 34-year-old is hanging up his spikes and moving into coaching.The Texas Rangers have hired Jankowski to be their first base coach under manager Bruce Bochy for 2026.
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A speed-and-defense specialist throughout his 11-year big-league career — stealing more than 100 bases — this feels like a natural next step for him.
Adam Eaton
Former White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton is also shifting his career path.
Eaton is leaving his assistant coaching role with Michigan State baseball to become the first base coach for the Los Angeles Angels .
From 2014–2016, Eaton was a fan favorite on the South Side — an energetic leadoff hitter known for his speed, defense, and relentless style of play. He peaked in 2016, posting a 6.2 fWAR season before the White Sox traded him to Washington for a prospect haul that included Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo López .
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Eaton briefly returned to the White Sox in 2021 before being released midseason and finishing his career with the Angels. While in Los Angeles , he played alongside longtime Angels catcher Kurt Suzuki , who is now the team's new manager.
Suzuki is tapping into familiar faces as he builds his staff, bringing Eaton on as his first base coach.
Max Stassi
Also joining Suzuki's staff is former big-league catcher Max Stassi — a player White Sox fans may barely remember, mostly because he never actually played a game for Chicago.
The White Sox acquired Stassi before the 2024 season hoping he'd bring leadership and stability behind the plate. But just a week before Opening Day, Stassi suffered a hip injury that required surgery, costing him the entire season while the Sox were left with Martín Maldonado as their primary catcher.
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Stassi appeared in 20 minor-league games in 2025 and performed well, but at 35 years old, a return to the big leagues wasn't guaranteed. Joining a major-league coaching staff is a logical next step.
The longtime Angels backstop has been hired as the team's catching coach, a role that has become a launching pad for many future managers. Stassi fits the mold perfectly.
