Chicago White Sox fans have waited in an unfortunate limbo over the past few seasons for the rebuild to end. Some promising young players have worked their way onto the big-league club over the past few seasons, but that hasn’t led to a stable, consistent young core. Chicago still needs some difference makers to turn the franchise around, and one of the more interesting prospects in the system is now even closer to the show.
Rikuu Nishida, an 11th-round pick out of the University of Oregon, recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte, where he’ll bring a unique skill set. While Nishida is not ranked on the FanGraphs Top 40 Prospect list for the organization, he has performed at every level and made a quick impression in Triple-A, hitting a home run in his first game at Triple-A.
Why White Sox Fans Should Be Taking Note
It’s reasonable to question why a move like this should be on fans’ radars, especially since Nishida is nowhere to be found on MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings for the franchise either. The 5’6″ second baseman who can also play outfield will not bring the same level of excitement that other top prospects in the organization will provide, but he can still be an x-factor in the organization.
In 274 minor league games, Nishida is a career .284 hitter with a .405 OBP and more walks (180) than strikeouts (149). By stealing six bases already this season, he has now swiped 101 bases in his minor league career. When it comes to the field, Nishida has made over 20 starts at each outfield position and over 100 starts at second base.
Between his versatility and overall strengths, Nishida brings qualities that Chicago could certainly use. As it stands, the White Sox rank in the bottom five in the league in strikeouts (190) and OBP (.295). While the league values power and guys who can drive in runs, Nishida is someone who has proven he can help win games in other ways, posting a wRC+ of 124 last season in Double-A.
At this point in the season, the White Sox rank in the bottom third of teams in home runs, so they need to manufacture their runs in other ways. As fans have learned from the Milwaukee Brewers, having success on the base paths is one of those ways. Chicago has made a concerted effort to steal bases this season, ranking eighth in the league with 17. A player like Nishida only amplifies their ability to win the battle on bases, especially given his versatility in the field if he needed to come in as a pinch runner late in a game.
What the Future May Hold
While no one is really standing in his way on the White Sox roster, Chicago will likely give him extended time in Triple-A to see how he adapts to the level. The more success Nishida has, the better his chances could be of becoming a bench player for Chicago in the back half of the season.
It may still be early in the year, but the White Sox have multiple guys, especially on their bench, who are underperforming. Someone like Tristan Peters, with options on their contract and a .214 average with a 46 wRC+, could eventually see a guy like Nishida overtake his spot on the bench so the organization can get a closer look at what the former 11th-rounder can bring to the big league club.
Main Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
