Andrew Benintendi’s turnaround at the plate has helped match the White Sox’s recent momentum, shifting expectations inside the clubhouse from “another loss” to “win.” While he remains mostly on the bench against left-handers, his middle-of-the-order production
Seattle — The White Sox didn’t change overnight. It still took a steady stretch to feel real. But in the fourth year of Andrew Benintendi’s five-year. $75 million deal — the biggest in franchise history — the veteran left fielder/designated hitter is starting to look like the signing the club has been waiting on.
In Tuesday’s game, Benintendi entered play hitting .289/.346/.400 over his last 15 games. Those swings have capped the Sox’ best stretch since he arrived on the South Side.
“It’s awesome,” Benintendi said. “We have fun. It’s energy every single day. The expectation now versus in the past — it was like, be competitive. And now, it’s to win. I think there’s a lot of confidence in here.”
That language lands differently in Chicago because the past is still fresh. The 31-year-old struggled through his first three underperforming seasons with the Sox, and 2024 became the low point — a season that set MLB’s modern-era record for losses.
“In ‘24, that bad year, you’d show up and guys would be like, ‘Oh, another loss,’” Benintendi said. “Guys are obviously pissed now when we lose, so the expectations took pretty much a 180, which is great.”
Even with the bench still part of his daily rhythm — he’s generally riding it against lefty starters — Benintendi has added pop in the middle of manager Will Venable’s order. During this resurgence, he has three homers, seven doubles and 19 RBI. His season line is .239/.291/.388 in 43 games.
“I’ve become a little more selective up there,” Benintendi said. “More willing to take a single. I’m trying to stay through the middle of the field a little more. It all comes down to the pitches you swing at. Even when things go bad for me. I feel like usually I’m fouling those off. but during this stretch. I’m putting the ball in play.”.
The Sox’ turnaround is also being felt in the way the team talks about itself — not as a group waiting for losses to pile up, but as a younger clubhouse that believes it can make outcomes different.
That feeling shows up elsewhere, too. Journeyman reliever Trevor Richards has had rocky outings since signing with the Sox earlier this month, including the three-run homer he served up late in Monday’s loss. Still, he said there’s been real support in the locker room.
Richards, 33, lives in downstate Aviston and has family in suburban Downers Grove. His ties to Illinois aren’t the only ones represented: the team also includes two other Illinois natives — utility player Sam Antonacci of Springfield and left-hander Bryan Hudson of Alton.
“It’s cool to be back in a group that’s young and energetic and kind of brings a new life to it,” Richards said. “It’s fun. I feel like, as you get up there and you go through some older teams, you kind of get away from that. So coming back into a clubhouse like this has really been enjoyable.”
Richards added that he’s still learning from teammates. “I’m learning from them as well. I think everyone’s always learning, especially in the big leagues.”
Even as the offense and clubhouse mood shift, the Sox’ roster keeps turning with injuries and opportunities. On Tuesday. the team transferred catcher Kyle Teel to the 60-day injured list with a strained knee ligament and acquired left-hander Joe Rock from Tampa Bay in exchange for Triple-A Charlotte infielder Oliver Dunn.
Teel rejoined the team in Seattle a day after the Sox announced his injury setback, which could sideline him another six weeks after working his way back from a pulled hamstring.
Rock, meanwhile, made three relief appearances for the Rays in his debut season last year. This year, he was 1-1 in 13 outings at Triple-A Durham with a 5.40 ERA.
The Sox also placed outfielder Austin Hays into the next phase of his recovery. Hays began a rehab assignment at Charlotte on his way back from a calf strain he suffered May 1, just a few days after returning from a separate injured-list stint for a hamstring pull.
Hays, the veteran offseason addition, has hit .233/.250/.326 with a homer in the 12 games he has played for the Sox. His return will happen without Osvaldo Bido, who was released from Charlotte after struggling during his time in Chicago.
The team DFA’d Bido after he posted a 6.23 ERA in five outings with the Sox. Now, the focus shifts to his next steps as he pursues playing opportunities in Japan.
For a club still rebuilding, the biggest change may be the simplest one. Benintendi described it as a swing in expectations — not just to compete, but to win — and he’s giving the Sox a reason to believe that standard might actually be reachable right now.
Andrew Benintendi White Sox Will Venable Trevor Richards Kyle Teel Joe Rock Austin Hays Osvaldo Bido MLB Seattle Mariners