Benintendi (side) will serve as the White Sox's designated hitter during Saturday's Cactus League game against Seattle.

EDGE Analysis

After sitting down for a few days with side soreness, Benintendi made his return to the Cactus League on Thursday. He has gone 3-for-9 over four games so far this spring, and he remains on track to open the season as Chicago's primary left fielder.

Benintendi (side) took some swings Sunday and is expected to return to Cactus League action after the White Sox's off day Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi was scratched from the Cactus League lineup this past Friday due to right side soreness and has remained out since then. However, Benintendi said Monday that the White Sox are just exercising caution with him, adding that he would be playing if it were the regular season. Benintendi will be Chicago's primary left fielder in 2026 but will also see starts at designated hitter.

Benintendi was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Rangers with right side soreness, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Consider Benintendi day-to-day for now, as Darren Baker will now make the start in left field and bat ninth against Texas. Benintendi spent the offseason getting in better shape and dropped 12 pounds after dealing with Achilles issues for the previous two seasons. His .738 OPS last season was Benintendi's best mark in three campaigns with the White Sox.

Benintendi did not deal with Achilles issues during the offseason after going through a regimen of calf exercises given to him by the White Sox training staff, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi has had to manage left Achilles tendinitis off and on over the last two seasons, which led to him being used often at designated hitter and hampered his defense when he played left field. In addition to the calf exercises, Benintendi also lost 12 pounds over the winter in order to reduce the stress on his Achilles. The 31-year-old is prepared to be the team's everyday left fielder in 2026, though he could still spend ample time at DH. At the plate, Benintendi plans to focus more on a contact-oriented, on-base approach rather than power. "I don't know where I'm going to hit in the lineup, but it's just about getting on base and scoring runs," he said. "I feel good now where I can score from first on a gapper."

Benintendi anticipates focusing on getting on base rather than hitting for power in 2026, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi has hit 20 home runs in consecutive seasons, but he's gotten on base at just a .289 and .307 clip during those two campaigns. He explained that he felt added pressure to deliver power based on the lack of pop elsewhere in the lineup, something that is expected to change in 2026 with Colson Montgomery and Munetaka Murakami a part of the everyday lineup. Benintendi shed weight this offseason to take pressure off his Achilles, after suffering an injury in July that nagged him for the rest of the season.

The White Sox placed Benintendi on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to left Achilles tendinitis, Jack Ankony of SI.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran outfielder's playing time had been cut in recent days, and this could be part of the reason. With his placement on the injured list, Benintendi's 2025 campaign is over. He ends his age-31 season with a .240/.307/.431 slash line, 20 home runs, 63 RBI, 57 runs scored, one stolen base and a 40:82 BB:K across 470 plate appearances. Benintendi has two years remaining on his five-year, $75 million contract he signed ahead of the 2023 season.

Benintendi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Though he's not dealing with any reported injury, Benintendi will take a seat for the fourth game in a row as the White Sox wrap up their final homestand of 2025. Under contract through 2027, Benintendi projects to handle a near-everyday role next season, but the White Sox look content to use the remaining few games of the 2025 campaign to evaluate other options in the corner outfield.

Benintendi is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi isn't dealing with any known injury, but this is the second straight game versus a right-handed pitcher that the left-handed hitter didn't start. Will Robertson is in left field and batting eighth in Friday's series opener.

Benintendi is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi will get a breather for the matinee contest after he had started in each of the White Sox's last five games. Will Robertson will spell Benintendi in left field and will bat seventh.

Benintendi went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Tuesday against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Benintendi delivered a two-run home run in the eighth inning, his 20th home run of the season -- tying his career high. Five of those long balls have come in his last 13 games, during which he's also delivered 13 RBI and seven runs scored.