Andrew

Benintendi

There’s something about Benintendi and the Twins. He has 17 homers against the franchise, which is six more than he has against any other club. 13 of those have come in 44 games at Target Field. Today’s game saw him draw three walks for the first time since 2022 and reach base safely five times for the first time since 2023. Benintendi also homered Monday, and he raised his OPS from .660 to .711 over the course of the three-game series.

With left-hander Framber Valdez on the mound for Detroit, this is a game that Benintendi probably would not have started if not for Munetaka Murakami’s injury. He did double off Valdez, though, before eventually putting the game away with a two-run homer off Beau Breiske that made it 7-1 in the eighth. Benintendi struck out in his other two at-bats. He is hitting .236/.283/.388 with four homers through 181 plate appearances.

Benintendi is back at DH and hitting sixth after sitting out Sunday’s contest against Seattle with neck stiffness. It doesn’t appear to be a significant concern moving forward. The 31-year-old corner outfielder is hitting an underwhelming .235/.272/.365 with two homers and 17 RBI across 36 games this season. He can be safely ignored in most fantasy leagues.

Benintendi was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to stiffness in his neck. The 31-year-old outfielder is considered day-to-day. Once again, Randal Grichuk will start in his place as the White Sox’ designated hitter and will bat eighth against Mariners’ right-hander Logan Gilbert.

Benintendi was set to DH and batting sixth. Randal Grichuk replaced him in the lineup, just because the White Sox feel the need to play one nominal outfielder whose best year came pre-COVID.

Benintendi had a couple of hits including a three-run homer on Thursday night, so it’s a bit surprising to see him out of the lineup against an opposing right-hander on Friday evening. Perhaps the White Sox know something that we don’t and expect a left-hander to work bulk innings in the game. Everson Pereira will slide up to the leadoff spot in his absence against what’s expected to be Miles Mikolas for the Nationals.

Benintendi’s 410-foot fly off Paul Sewald was his second homer of the season. He’s hitting just .216/.266/.392 with a 35 percent strikeout rate, but the White Sox have been letting him lead off and DH against right-handers. It’s quite the long shot, but they’d love to see him get hot and open up the possibility that someone might want him in trade, even if the White Sox would surely have to pick up most of the ~$28 million remaining on his contract to make it happen.

Benintendi got the nod for the leadoff spot against the A’s in Sacramento on Saturday. It was the third consecutive game in the leadoff spot against a right-handed start. He drove in three of the team’s six runs with a three-run homer off Luis Severino in the top of the second inning. The 31-year-old outfielder is hitting .200/.262/.367 with one homer and six RBI across 65 plate appearances.

Unless Benintendi was hurt on an embarrassing HBP/strikeout in the third — the pitch hit him on the back shoulder area as he was in the process of swinging — it seems pretty notable that the White Sox preferred Tristan Peters to him against right-handed closer Ryan Helsley (it didn’t work out). Benintendi is batting .179/.207/.179 with one RBI and 12 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances. Even though he’s still due another $14.5 million in 2027, the White Sox might just go ahead and move on at some point.

With Austin Hays landing on the IL with a hamstring strain, the White Sox needed another outfielder. Many people may have been hoping for Sam Antonacci to get the call, but the White Sox are going to give him more time in the minors. That also likely indicates that the White Sox are not looking to fill a starting role with this call-up. Harris stole 33 bases in the minors for the Rangers last year, so he will likely be a pinch runner and part-time player while Hays is out, with Andrew Benintendi moving out to left field and Lenyn Sosa getting more of a chance for regular DH at-bats.