The White Sox brought Rikuu Nishida back to Chicago on Tuesday, but this looks more like a short-term stop than a real second act.
Chicago placed veteran Andrew Benintendi on the bereavement list before Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, and that opened the door for Nishida to be recalled from Triple-A. It’s the second big league look for the 25-year-old utilityman, who also spent 12 games with the White Sox in late May and early June.
That first run came with a chance to see more consistent action. This one figures to be much more fleeting.
Nishida has carved out a reputation as one of the more intriguing White Sox prospects since being taken in the 11th round in 2023. The appeal is obvious: elite contact skills, strong plate discipline, and the kind of on-base profile that keeps showing up in the minors.
He’s hovered near .300 in batting average and has topped an .400 OBP in each of his full minor league seasons. The flip side is just as clear.
At 5’6, he doesn’t bring much power, and the damage on contact has been minimal. He has only two home runs as a pro, including one earlier this season in Charlotte.
That’s why his game has been more about energy and the little things than loud offense.
During his first stint with the White Sox, Nishida started in right field against right-handed pitching. He went 7-for-29 with a pair of RBIs across those 12 games, but the moment that may have stuck most was his work in the outfield against Minnesota, where he picked up two assists in one series.
Rikuu Nishida had his arm tested early in his debut …
And he threw a perfect strike 🎯 pic.twitter.com/mXLtABXEIJ
- MLB (@MLB) May 25, 2026
This time, though, the runway looks much shorter. With Braden Montgomery now in the big leagues, Nishida isn’t expected to get the same kind of right-field reps he had last time.
Benintendi’s stay on the bereavement list will last three to seven days, which means he’ll miss the rest of the Rangers series and could be back in time for the trip to Minnesota on Friday. If that happens, Nishida would likely be headed right back to Charlotte.
Wednesday’s matchup also doesn’t point toward a start for him, since Texas has a left-hander on the mound. His best shot at getting into the lineup may have come Tuesday night.
There’s a future case for Nishida as a bench piece who can bring speed and get on base, but the White Sox already have Luisangel Acuna and Brenton Doyle in similar roles. Carrying three light-hitting speed threats wouldn’t make much sense.
For now, White Sox fans can enjoy whatever Nishida gives them while Benintendi is away. Just don’t expect it to last long.
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