White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi expects to return to action this week

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Andrew Benintendi has been out of game action since Feb. 25 with what he said Monday has been general soreness in his right side. The White Sox left fielder added that, barring any setbacks, he expects to be back in the lineup for Thursday’s home night game against the Cleveland Guardians, he told the Sun-Times.

“It’s early in camp and we are just being cautious,” he said.

Sox manager Will Venable later confirmed the plan before their Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants at Camelback Ranch.

“He’ll be ready Thursday, we think,” Venable said. “He was swinging today, running around today. He’d probably play if it wasn’t March 2. We’ll give him a couple more days and get him back out there.”

The White Sox play the Padres at home on Tuesday and then will enjoy an off day on Wednesday. Considering the night game Thursday, that gives Benintendi a good portion of the week off.

He’s played in only three February spring games and had three hits in seven at bats, two of them doubles.

Benintendi is coming off a dismal and injury-plagued 2025 season that began when he missed most of spring training after being hit by a pitch and suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right hand. Upon returning in April, he was felled by a left abductor strain. And finally in September he had tendinitis in his left Achilles tendon and missed the rest of the season.

In all, he played in just 116 games, batting .240 with 20 homers and 63 RBIs, and a 104 OPS+, just four points above the major league average. At 31 and going into his 11th big-league season for four teams, Benintendi senses he’s at a crossroads.

“We’re not getting any younger,” he said. “Sometimes it’s one thing after another.”

Asked what it’s like to be part of another Sox rebuild, he added: “We’re a couple of years into it now. So, it feels less like a rebuild. Guys are getting solidified. We brought in a lot of new guys, and it will be a big year for a lot of guys coming back.”

‘Leaning into leadership’

Monday’s starter for the White Sox, Davis Martin, said he’s vying for the Opening Day start on March 26 vs. the Brewers in Milwaukee, or perhaps a leadership role on the team. Martin worked three innings and stretched to 51 pitches, allowing three earned runs on four hits with a pair of walks and two strikeouts.

“Everybody is leaning into leadership,” Martin said. “It’s more organic than anything. I don’t think anybody has taken it upon themselves to be, ‘I’m the leader. I’m the king.’ Everybody has their areas of expertise. I still have to go in and ask questions. It’s a beautiful thing about this game: you’re never done evolving. If I’m in a leadership role, great. I’m going to be myself.”

About starting Opening Day, Davis added: “Is it wide open? I have no idea. We’re going to compete like it’s wide open.”