CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 25: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox and Rikuu Nishida #51 of the Chicago White Sox stand for the National Anthem before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field on May 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
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The Chicago White Sox have promoted left-handed hitting second baseman/outfielder Rikuu Nishida to the big league club.
Nishida spent parts of four seasons in his Chicago White Sox development program.
Nishida, 25, was promoted from the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, where his On Base Percentage was .454.
He left Charlotte with a batting average of .347, with three doubles, and one home run in 209 Triple-A plate appearances. He stole six bases, without being thrown out.
To make room for Nishida on their 40-man roster, the White Sox designated outfielder Jarred Kelenic for assignment.
Nishida started in right field for the White Sox on May 25, 2027, the day of his graduation to the big leagues.
Nishida joins slugger Munetaka Murakami on the White Sox roster, as two players of Japanese descent.
The physicality of Nishida and Murakami couldn’t be more different.
Nishida is 5-6, 150 pounds, but he plays with tremendous passion and energy.
Murakami is 6-2, 213 pounds. He too, gives everything he has on the field.
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There are other tremendous differences between Nishida and Murakami.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - MAY 22: Munetaka Murakami #5 of the Chicago White Sox warms up his swing taking batting practice prior to the start of the game against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on May 22, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Murakami is a slugger. In fact, he hit his American League leading 17th home run the day Nishida joined him in as a teammate.
Nishida will not likely hit many home runs in the major leagues. Rather, he will provide pesky at-bats, with good plate discipline, good pitch recognition, solid bat-to-ball skills, and enough speed to steal bases, or take an extra base when he deems it practical.
Both Murakami and Nishida are solid defensive players; with Murakami playing first base.
Hitting 9th for the White Sox In his debut appearance, Nishida had a single in three plate appearances.
futuresox.net said this about Nishida, “Nishida is not going to change a game with raw power, though he did homer in his Triple-A debut for his second home run as a member of the organization. His value comes from everything around that.”
futuresox.net indicated Nishida has a “different kind of offensive profile.”
From what this old scout observed in Nishida’s debut, Nishida makes things happen. He hustles. He plays his heart out, and isn’t afraid to get his uniform dirty. He’s a baseball player.
Nishida got his first outfield assist, throwing Minnesota Twins shortstop Orlando Arcia out at home.
Oregon infielder Rikuu Nishida (56) runs to first base during an NCAA baseball game against Northwestern State on Friday, March 24, 2023, in Eugene, Ore. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Nishida is from Osaka, Japan.
Nishida was an 11th round selection of the Chicago White Sox in 2023.
Nishida was selected out of the University of Oregon, where he played for the Oregon Ducks.
Here is some of what duckswire.usatoday.com had to say about Nishida on the day he was promoted to the parent White Sox: “The 5-foot-6 Japanese star was the king of contact and thievery on the bases for the Ducks in 2023, leading the program to a Super Regional in Eugene.
Contact hitting and speed form a very credible combination for a young rookie player trying to make his mark in the big leagues.
While he may not hit home runs, he certainly may be able to shoot the gaps with that good contact, and stretch a potential single to a double.
With his speed, he can steal a base at the proper moment, and score crucial runs for a White Sox team that finds themselves in the middle of the American League Central Division pennant race.
One tremendous anecdote noted in a ducswire.usatoday.com article included this encounter in the Charlotte clubhouse the day Nishida was promoted to Chicago: “…Nishida’s manager and former big leaguer Chad Palmer teased the former Duck by making him stand on a chair in the locker room above his teammates. Then he told Nishida he would be heading to Chicago, sparking a mixed reaction of disbelief and joy.”
His teammates have indicated that Nishida plays with joy. They love his passion and his positive attitude.
Nishida joins a more competitive Chicago White Sox club than the team’s of 2023 until now.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 25: Rikuu Nishida #51 of the Chicago White Sox speaks to media before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Rate Field on May 25, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images)
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Nishida is an average major league baseball player, which means he should have a regular tole in a team’s lineup.
Nishida’s greatest tools are his speed, and his ability to play superior defense with a solid, dependable throwing arm.
Nishida won’t flash much power. He may not hit home runs, or hit for a high batting average.
What Nishida will do is put pressure on the pitcher with good, solid hitting mechanics.
He will get his share of gap doubles, and perhaps some triples in larger venues.
What Nishida will do is steal some bases when they are needed.
Nishida wears No. 51, the same number warn by All World, Hall of Famer Japanese star, Ichiro Suzuki.
The Chicago White Sox have improved tremendously since the days when they were last in the American League Central.
Playing with passion and joy, Rikuu Nishida will join Chicago White Sox slugger, Munetaka Murakami as two very good Japanese players with different skill sets, and a desire to play winning baseball.
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