Bobby Jenks
ManagerE-mail:
Bobby Jenks will begin his second season as Manager of the Windy City ThunderBolts in 2025.
Jenks is best known to the SouthSIde of Chicago and its suburbs as the star rookie closer of the 2005 World Series Champion Chicago White Sox. The two time All-Star (2006 & 2007) tallied 173 saves in 348 appearances, finishing with a career 3.53 ERA. In 2007 he retired 41-consecutive batters, tying an MLB record (later broken by White Sox teammate Mark Buehrle). Overall he played seven seasons in the Major Leagues from 2005-11 for the White Sox and Boston Red Sox before injuries cut his career short.
The 2025 season will be Jenks' fourth coaching at a professional level and fifth overall. He began his coaching career as Pitching Coach of the Grand Junction Rockies (Pioneer League) in 2021 with his staff finishing 4th in the league in pitching. He was quickly named Manager of Grand Junction for the 2022 season, leading the team to a 62-33 record, winning the league championship and being named Manager of the Year. The 2023 season saw Jenks shift to the collegiate Appalachian League as Pitching Coach of the Princeton WhistlePigs in collaboration with Major League Baseball before moving back into the professional ranks with the ThunderBolts before the 2024 season.
Jenks was born on March 14, 1981 in Mission Hills, California and was drafted out of high school by the Anaheim Angels in the 5th round of the 2000 MLB June Amateur Draft. He was named the 20th Manager in ThunderBolts history on October 26, 2023, replacing Richie Sexson.
Jenks announced in on February 15, 2025 that he would miss the beginning of the 2025 season to undergo treatment for cancer. Bench Coach Toby Hall was named Interim Manager in Jenks' absence.