Rikuu Nishida returns for his second MLB opportunity as Andrew Benintendi steps away from the White Sox on the bereavement list.
Prior to Tuesday night's game against the Texas Rangers, the Chicago White Sox made a roster move to add outfielder Rikuu Nishida to the active roster.
Nishida was with the White Sox on Monday but did not officially join the team until Tuesday, when veteran outfielder Andrew Benintendi was placed on the bereavement list.
Benintendi is taking some time away from the team. The bereavement list permits a player to miss between three and seven games while dealing with a death or serious illness involving an immediate family member.
In the meantime, Nishida joins the White Sox and gets his second opportunity at the MLB level this season.
After starting 2026 in Double-A Birmingham, Nishida quickly earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte. Over his first 33 games with the Knights, he batted .347 with an .849 OPS, a stretch good enough to earn him a call-up and his MLB debut on May 25.
At the time, the 25-year-old became the first player in history to be born in Japan, attend high school in Japan, play college baseball in the United States, and then make an MLB roster. And he wasted no time finding ways to contribute to the White Sox, recording a hit and an outfield assist against the Minnesota Twins in his first game.
Nishida threw out a runner at the plate in each of his first two MLB games and ultimately appeared in 12 games for the White Sox, batting .241 with two RBIs before being sent back down to the minor leagues.
Since being sent down, Nishida's batting average hasn't been quite as spectacular. He's hitting just .260 over his last 53 games, but his walk rate has increased in an impressive way. Nishida has drawn 47 walks over that 53-game stretch, raising his on-base percentage to .404.
While on-field contributions might not be an everyday occurrence for Nishida, there's definitely an offensive floor to his profile that could help the White Sox in the right scenario over a small sample size. He also brings an energy and excitement into the clubhouse that could help keep this team upbeat and lively during the dog days of August.
I don't expect this to be an extended tenure with the MLB club. But the White Sox are a first-place team today because unsung heroes and unlikely players have continually stepped up. Who knows how Nishida might be able to contribute to the Sox while he's here?
