Ventura welcomed back into the fold as an advisor

The White Sox’ ever expanding family welcomed back another key member on Monday.

Robin Ventura, a star third baseman for the Sox from 1989-98, is returning in July as a special advisor to director of player development Buddy Bell.

Ventura has dropped in on the Sox from time to time since retiring after playing his final season for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2004.

Now, the six-time Gold Glover will be spending more time as he visits each of the White Sox’ minor-league teams throughout the summer.

“I have kids that are getting older,” said Ventura, who has three daughters and a son, Jack, who is the youngest at 12. “I have a little more free time than I did before. Jerry (Reinsdorf) and Buddy gave me the opportunity to be a little flexible. That’s the part that intrigued me.

“It would have been a difficult sell if it would be six months. But going to coach just for three or four days (a week) was appealing. I’m excited to do it.”

Ventura, now one of 11 former Sox players either managing or coaching in the organization, doesn’t have a specific set of duties in his new assignment.

“I watched Robin play for a lot of years and I have a lot of respect for the way he played, but also for the kind of person he is,” Bell said. “We are looking forward to the relationship. It’s going to kind of evolve into whatever. Right now, I’m going to pick his brain.

“He’s going to the affiliates to check the teams out. There will be special guys we want Robin to look at or bear down on. Either they need his help or we want another set of eyes to look at them.”

There is an obvious question following Monday’s announcement: Is Ventura going to eventually surface with the White Sox?

“Not necessarily,” said Ventura, who will be back on ESPN shortly broadcasting the College World Series. “I have no plans of being president of the team. This is just a step of getting back within the organization and whatever happens, happens. If it doesn’t go any further than this ... I don’t know.

“I’m willing to put my foot in the water and see what happens. I don’t really have any thoughts on what the future is. I like to be able to do this within the White Sox organization.”

And the Sox are thrilled to have him back.

“Awesome,” said manager Ozzie Guillen, Ventura’s close friend and teammate for seven seasons. “Great idea. He’s a baseball man and he loves this organization.”