Players value authenticity, and new White Sox hitting coach Derek Shomon has it in abundance.
He also has the task of improving an offense that finished 27th in the majors in runs scored and of continuing to develop young players such as Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, Edgar Quero and Kyle Teel.
‘‘I think guys see through bull—- quickly, and ‘Sho’ is the opposite of bull—-,” Marlins president of baseball operations Peter Bendix said. ‘‘When I walk in a room and I hear him yell ‘BENDIX!’ in his deep voice at the top of his lungs, I know he’s doing that because that’s just who he is.
‘‘He’s not trying to do that for somebody else, and that genuineness, I personally really respect that about him. And I think [for] a lot of players, that helps earn their trust.’’
Shomon will have to help the Sox’ many young players deal with the highs and lows of a major-league season. General manager Chris Getz has been steadfast in his plan of building through the farm system, and the Sox made significant offensive strides after the All-Star break this past season, scoring the 10th-most runs in the majors.
And because it’s unlikely that the Sox will sign a major free agent to help their offense, it was important for Getz to hire the right hitting coach for the young hitters who likely will carry the load next season.
The Sox’ last rebuilding effort stalled because of a lack of development once players reached the majors. That past failure informs the present and emphasizes the need for Shomon to be the right man for the job.
Shomon got a taste of dealing with young players as an assistant hitting coach last season with the Marlins, who didn’t have an everyday player older than 30. Bendix lauded Shomon for his ability to earn the young players’ trust while also being able to ‘‘kick them in the ass when they need to be kicked in the ass.’’
Shomon came from a nontraditional background, having spent the 2012-19 seasons coaching in the independent Frontier League and American Association before joining the Twins in 2021 as their hitting coach at Class A Fort Myers.
Despite his relative inexperience at the big-league level, Shomon has earned respect around the majors for his preparation and knowledge.
‘‘Major-league hitters can tell very quickly whether you know what you’re talking about, so you have to know what you’re talking about,’’ Bendix said. ‘‘I think that gives him the credibility that guys say, ‘OK, this guy knows what he’s doing. I want to listen to him.’ ’’
The Sox must ensure that Montgomery, Meidroth, Teel and Quero are supported by quality veterans and the right coaches to push them.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold knows better than most executives about reaping the benefits of development at the major-league level. He credited manager Pat Murphy and his staff for being able to be supportive while dishing out tough feedback.
‘‘I think it’s important where they have to learn the ropes as a young player to understand the challenges, but you have to nurture these guys,’’ Arnold told the Sun-Times. ‘‘You really have to help them and treat them like they are your kids and care about them.
‘‘And it’s not just squeezing every ounce out of them in that moment. It’s like, ‘How do you nurture them in a way that’s good for their long-term success?’ ’’
How the Sox answer that question likely will determine the fate of their rebuild.