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Signs point to Manto as new hitting coach

CHICAGO – With nothing official expected to come from the White Sox until after the World Series, there are clues that Jeff Manto will be named the club’s hitting coach as expected.

A White Sox source indicated Tuesday that Tim Laker will move from his post as Triple-A hitting coach to minor-league hitting coordinator. That was the position Manto held the past four seasons.

That would seem to indicate that Manto would move to the open position of major-league hitting instructor to replace Greg Walker, but that has not been confirmed.

Teams are now asked to embargo all news until after the World Series is completed.

General manager Kenny Williams said he was going to name the White Sox’s coaching staff under new manager Robin Ventura last week, but that official announcement never came.

Hitting coach was believed to be the only hang up, with Mark Parent expected to be the bench coach to replace Joey Cora and Tim McEwing expected to be the third-base coach to replace Jeff Cox.

There was also published speculation this week that the White Sox could also be interested in Jim Thome as their hitting coach.

Before serving as the White Sox’s hitting coordinator, Manto was the major-league hitting coach for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2006-07). Before that he was the Pirates’ roving hitting instructor for three years and managed for one season in the minor leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The career .230 hitter played nine seasons with the Indians, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Yankees and Rockies.

Manto is a Pennsylvania native and a Temple University alum.