Japanese prospect Nishida speechless from meeting 'legend' Ichiro

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Saturday’s White Sox Cactus League contest against the Mariners in Peoria, Arizona, is one Rikuu Nishida will never forget.

The White Sox prospect was called up to the Major League roster from Minor League camp but didn’t get to play. The native of Osaka, Japan, did get to meet Ichiro, one of the newest Hall of Famers, and like so many previous at-bats or plays in the field during his historic career, Ichiro once again pulled off the impossible: he left Nishida speechless, a tough task for an individual White Sox director of player development Paul Janish once described as leading the league in personality.

“I couldn’t talk,” a smiling Nishida told MLB.com. “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.”

Nishida had tried to meet Ichiro last year, yelling out his name from across the field during Spring Training. But the meeting never happened, as Nishida recalled with a laugh how Ichiro probably thought he was just another fan.

In regard to last weekend’s visit, people alerted Ichiro of Nishida’s presence and he approached him in the dugout. While Nishida was left in stunned silence, Ichiro told Nishida, “ganbatte,” which means “good luck” in Japanese.

“I’ve never met him,” Nishida said. “I grew up in a different place and then I came to the U.S. way earlier.

“Usually everybody plays in the Japanese big leagues and then comes to free agency here. But kind of a different experience for me. I went to college [University of Oregon]. Now, he realizes about me.”

Over 127 games played last season between Single-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham, Nishida topped the Minors with 114 runs scored. He also led the White Sox with 49 stolen bases, but his goal is set at 75 stolen bases for the 2025 campaign.

Speed would seem to be at the center of Nishida’s game. But Nishida explained with a smile how pretty much everybody on the Minor League side was faster than him.

“Trust me. I’m not that fast. I know how to run the bases,” Nishida said. “I feel I need more good stats. I played only one full season. I have to keep my stats [consistent] every year. Then I maybe have a chance to make the big leagues.”

If he makes the Majors, he’ll be following in Ichiro’s footsteps. He’ll also get an assist from Ichiro.

“My bat is an Ichiro model,” Nishida said. “I have two models and one of them is Ichiro.”