Rick Renteria is getting a second chance to manage in Chicago, this time on the South Side.
The White Sox promoted Renteria from bench coach to replace Robin Ventura on Monday, hoping he can help turn around a struggling franchise.
Renteria takes over a team with one playoff appearance since its 2005 championship year. And he gets another opportunity after the Cubs unceremoniously let him go after the 2014 season so they could hire Joe Maddon.
"I'm extremely excited," Renteria said. "It's a little bittersweet because I became good friends with Robin."
The White Sox noted that Renteria is the only Latino manager in the majors and touted his ability to communicate in English and Spanish.
General Manager Rick Hahn said the organization might have found candidates as good — but none better — had it looked elsewhere.
Hahn said Ventura first told him just over a month ago that he thought it was time for the organization to make a change in the dugout. Hahn said there were "personal reasons behind it" and added that Ventura "spoke highly" of Renteria.
Ventura announced Sunday that he would not return, insisting the decision was his and he wasn't pushed out despite five seasons without a playoff appearance.