The White Sox have officially selected the contract of Japanese prospect Rikuu Nishida from Triple-A Charlotte, setting the stage for his Major League debut on Monday. With Nishida joining Munetaka Murakami on the active roster, the club now has two Japanese players on the big league team for the first time since Shingo Takatsu and Tadahito Iguchi in 2005.
As part of their press release, the White Sox also revealed that Nishida will wear No. 51 in the majors. It is a tribute to Nishida’s idol, Ichiro Suzuki, who famously wore the number throughout his Hall of Fame career with the Seattle Mariners.
Just last season, Nishida actually had the chance to meet Ichiro in Spring Training, though the moment left him speechless.
“I couldn’t talk,” Nishida told MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “That’s a legend, right? I get nervous. Usually, I can talk to everyone, but I couldn’t talk to Ichiro. I couldn’t say a word. That was a big moment for me.”
Despite leaving Nishida starstruck, Ichiro offered him a simple message: “ganbatte,” which translates to “good luck” in Japanese. He also gifted him a signed bat, which was delivered by White Sox legend Jim Thome.
Nishida’s journey to the majors has been anything but conventional. A native of Osaka, Japan, he moved to the United States to pursue college baseball, eventually starring at the University of Oregon before being selected by the White Sox in the 11th round of the 2023 MLB Draft. Now, just three years later, he has completed his rapid rise through the organization.
After opening the 2026 season with Double-A Birmingham, the versatile utilityman earned a promotion to Triple-A Charlotte in mid-April and has quickly become one of the Knights’ most consistent hitters.
In 32 games with Charlotte, Nishida is slashing .342/.449/.392 with three doubles, one home run, nine RBI, and a strong walk rate that reflects his disciplined approach at the plate. While power is not a major part of his game, Nishida has been a spark plug at every level thanks to his elite on-base ability, defensive versatility, and aggressive baserunning.
Once he steps on the field in Monday’s game, Nishida will become just the fifth Japanese-born player in White Sox history. Along with Murakami (2026), he will join outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and right-handed pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05).
Nishida is currently penciled in as the starting right fielder, batting ninth in Monday’s matinee game against the Twins. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m. CDT.
Follow us on social media @SoxOn35th_Japan for more!
Featured Photo: Laura Wolff Photography
