Rikuu Nishida made his major league debut with the White Sox on Monday, batting ninth and playing right field in a 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. In the clubhouse and on the field at the Rate, he stayed grounded—smiling, admitting he still felt “like in a v
Rikuu Nishida was skipping and chuckling through the White Sox clubhouse. and then stayed light on the field at the Rate as the team moved through Monday’s 3-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. The laughter wasn’t denial—it was how a 25-year-old native of Osaka. Japan held onto the moment while everything around him shifted.
Nishida had just been promoted from Triple-A Charlotte, and he made his major league debut. He batted ninth and played right field in the same lineup with countryman and slugger Munetaka Murakami. At 5-foot-6 and 150 pounds. he even giggled during a pregame interview session with reporters in the dugout. speaking English but relying on interpreter Kenzo Yagi for precise translation.
“I’m really really happy, excited, but really nervous at the same time,” Nishida said via Yagi. “I still can’t believe it’s true right now, so a lot of butterflies inside me.”
“I don’t feel like I’m a major-leaguer. I am still like in a very humble state at the moment.”
In the win, he delivered more than a debut highlight reel. Nishida came through with his first hit, recorded seven outfield put-outs, and made a run-saving throw to the plate in the second inning that gunned down the Twins’ Orlando Arcia.
He also carried pressure of a different kind—one stitched into the uniform. Nishida is wearing No. 51, the same number worn by Hall of Famer and Japanese legend Ichiro Suzuki.
“The number itself speaks a lot,” Nishida said. “It’s a really big number for me to be honest.”
“I’m still a little bit unsure about, you know, whether I can wear it or not, but you know, I’m speechless. I can’t even put into words how much of a great player Ichiro is.”
Nishida pointed to Murakami as well, describing the 26-year-old rookie slugger as the kind of player who can lead—a “captain” type.
At 6-foot-2 and 213 pounds, Murakami’s size and classic power-hitting style contrast sharply with what Nishida is expected to bring: speed and a spray-the-ball approach closer to Ichiro.
The path to this day started long before the spotlight. The White Sox selected Nishida in the 11th round in 2023 after he played for the University of Oregon for one season. Before that. he broke into American baseball with two years split between separate junior college teams in Washington State (Cowlitz) in 2021 and Massachusetts (Hyannis) in 2022.
Asked about balancing baseball with other parts of life, Nishida didn’t try to smooth over the hardest chapter. His mother passed away while he was playing college ball, and he said it had a “really big effect on me and how I am as a person right now.”
He made clear, though, that loss didn’t steal the joy from the game.
“I just love the game of baseball,” he said. “It’s not about money. It’s not about being a hobby. I just love to play.”
“I think that really show who I am as a person. That’s why I think everybody sees me as an energetic person.”
“I also can be kind of quiet too… if you want me to,” he added with a laugh.
To make room on the roster, the White Sox designated outfielder Jarred Kelenic for assignment. Kelenic hit .226 with one homer and four RBIs in 19 games.
The timing of Nishida’s arrival also fits into a broader history of Japanese players reaching the majors. SportRadar said Nishida is the ninth player born in Japan, then drafted and making it to the majors. Yet he’s the first with a Japanese surname or given name. The rest of the group—starting with Bobby Fenwick. who was picked by the Sox in 1966—appear to be American citizens. and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is also on the list.
Nishida didn’t treat that distinction as something to chase.
“There’s not a lot of meaning into it, because I’m just the first person in the books,” he said. “There’s obviously a lot of great (Japanese) players out there.”
Rikuu Nishida White Sox Minnesota Twins MLB debut Munetaka Murakami Ichiro Suzuki No. 51 Jarred Kelenic Triple-A Charlotte
Batting ninth in his debut and he’s still nervous? Love it.
Why does every Japanese player have an interpreter like it’s 1990 lol. But hey if he’s making plays, good for him. Also No. 51 is basically cursed or blessed depending on Ichiro vibes.
I didn’t even know White Sox were still doing Ichiro numbers like that. Thought that was like retired already? Sounds cool though. Also he’s 5-foot-6 so I’m just surprised he’s getting those put-outs and throwing dudes out. Maybe he got lucky on that throw to the plate.
He was giggling and chuckling… so was that like nervous laughter or just disrespect? They said it wasn’t denial but idk man. I’m glad the Twins lost, but I want to see if he can actually hit when teams stop throwing him soft stuff. Also the whole “I don’t feel like a major leaguer yet” thing, like okay but you’re literally in the majors so just play.