Montoyo joining White Sox as bench coach

Pedro Grifol is all set as White Sox manager.

As for the rest of the coaching staff, it's already taking shape.

Ethan Katz will be back for his third season as pitching coach and Curt Hasler is returning as bullpen coach.

During Grifol's introductory media conference Thursday at Guaranteed Rate Field, general manager Rick Hahn announced Charlie Montoyo will be the Sox's new bench coach.

"Charlie has a sterling reputation in this game and is viewed as one of the finer bench coaches of the last decade plus or so," Hahn said. "The world knew he was available. It tends to be an insular community so we knew there was competition, there were multiple teams pursuing Charlie.

"Midway through the (Grifol) interview process, his name came up as a potential fit and we weren't looking to arrange a sort of marriage where the manager wasn't fully on board.

"Turns out Pedro, I don't know if he or I raised it first, but it was going to be part of it and certainly his enthusiasm from the jump was clear."

The 57-year-old Montoyo managed the Blue Jays from 2019 until he was fired in mid-July with a 46-42 record.

Montoyo was Toronto's bench coach in 2018, the Rays' third-base coach from 2015-17 and he managed in the minor leagues for 18 years.

Grifol has had a casual relationship with Montoyo, but he's happy to have him in the key position.

"We've spoken a few times," Grifol said. "But I just have so much respect for him and what he's done in the game. Here's a guy that was in the minor leagues for a long time as a manager, got an opportunity to get to the big leagues.

"He's extremely smart, bilingual. Got a chance to manage in the American League East. I'm really excited to bring him on board. I think he's going to help us. He's going to help me tremendously."