The White Sox made a roster move prior to Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, placing veteran Andrew Benintendi on the bereavement list and recalling utilityman Rikuu Nishida from Triple-A. After a 12-game stint with the White Sox back in late May and early June, and strong numbers in the minor leagues, Nishida has returned to Chicago for his second big league opportunity. Unlike the last time where he figured to get some decent playing time, this feels like it’ll be a brief and temporary stint, so I’d urge White Sox fans not to get too attached.
Nishida, 25, was an 11th-round pick by the White Sox in 2023 and has one of the more interesting profiles among White Sox prospects. Known for his elite contact skills and plate discipline, Nishida frequently nears .300 with his batting average and has posted an OBP above .400 in each of his full minor league seasons so far. The drawback, of course, is his 5’6 stature and very little impact contact. Nishida has just two home runs in his professional career, with one coming earlier this season in Charlotte. He’s more known for his energy and intangibles than his impact at the plate.
Rikuu Nishida's primary contributions to the White Sox haven't been at the plate
During his first stint with the White Sox, Nishida started in right field against right-handed pitching. In 12 games, he went 7-for-29 with a pair of RBIs, but may be most remembered for his two outfield assists in one series against Minnesota.
Rikuu Nishida had his arm tested early in his debut …
— MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2026
And he threw a perfect strike 🎯 pic.twitter.com/mXLtABXEIJ
With Braden Montgomery now in the big leagues, Nishida is unlikely to see the type of playing time in right field that he saw last time. When placed on the bereavement list, a player will be absent for three to seven days, so Benintendi will miss the remainder of the Rangers series, but may be activated in time for the team’s trip to Minnesota on Friday. I’d expect Nishida to head back to Charlotte upon Benintendi’s return. With a left-hander on the mound for Texas on Wednesday, Nishida likely won’t be in the starting lineup, and his only chance to start a game could come Tuesday night.
There may be a role on a future team for Nishida’s speed and on-base ability off the bench, but the White Sox already have a pair of light-hitting speed threats in Luisangel Acuna and Brenton Doyle, and having three on their roster wouldn’t make a ton of sense.
White Sox fans will surely be grateful for any production they can get from Nishida during Benintendi’s absence, but his contributions are likely to be both limited and temporary.
Add us as a preferred source on Google