The White Sox optioned Rikuu Nishida and Jonathan Cannon to Triple-A Charlotte while recalling Tyler Davis and preparing for Andrew Benintendi’s return.
The Chicago White Sox made a series of roster moves on Thursday that should come as a surprise to no one.
While the team traveled to Minnesota for a weekend series against the AL Central rival Twins, outfielder Rikuu Nishida and right-handed pitcher Jonathan Cannon returned to Charlotte after being optioned to the minor leagues.
Nishida was on the roster as a replacement for Andrew Benintendi, who missed the final two games of the homestand while on the bereavement list. While he has not yet been officially activated, Benintendi is expected to rejoin the White Sox for Friday night's game against the Twins.
Nishida did not appear in a game for the White Sox before being sent back to Triple-A Charlotte, but his temporary promotion likely shows Chicago's hand regarding which outfielder would be the next man up and who might have an opportunity to get another chance with the team in September once rosters expand.
Cannon did get into a game. He pitched as a mop-up reliever on Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers, allowing four hits and two earned runs over three innings.
Cannon also recorded the save in that game because he pitched the final nine outs. Now, he heads back to Triple-A Charlotte as the White Sox continue shuffling bullpen arms to keep the unit fresh. Right-handed pitcher Tyler Davis was recalled and rejoined the team.
Davis has pitched in 24 games and 26.1 innings for the White Sox in 2026. He has a 2-3 record with a 4.10 ERA. His last stint with the team came right before the All-Star break, and it was a productive one in which he pitched in back-to-back games and gave the White Sox three scoreless innings.
Given his standing on the 40-man roster, Davis is a far more intuitive call up for the White Sox than a prospect in Triple-A Charlotte, even one with more upside.
While Davis has struggled somewhat in Charlotte with a 6.65 ERA, his MLB production has been respectable. His ability to pitch in consecutive games will be a valuable asset for manager Will Venable as he navigates the final 29 contests of the regular season with a tiring bullpen.
The White Sox also added left-handed reliever Tyler Gilbert to the active roster on Friday with lefty Tyler Schweitzer landing on the paternity list. Gilbert has a 17.18 ERA in four appearances for Chicago this season and a 4.64 ERA in Triple-A.
I don't expect this pitching staff to stay set for long. Shuffling the deck chairs will be the name of the game for the White Sox as they constantly search for fresh arms and production on the mound. For now, that means Davis taking the place of Cannon while Benintendi returns to the team.
