Improvement is serious business for this fun-loving White Sox prospect

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CHICAGO -- Nobody scored more runs in the entirety of the Minor Leagues during the 2024 season than the 114 produced by Rikuu Nishida of the White Sox.

Nishida’s 49 stolen bases and .418 on-base percentage also were tops among White Sox Minor Leaguers. Yet, the 23-year-old, left-handed hitter from Osaka, Japan, wasn’t satisfied. It’s a humble approach taken by the 11th-round selection in the 2023 MLB Draft, who director of player development Paul Janish once described as leading the league in personality.

It also shows off a quest for continued improvement from a burgeoning talent with a most unique profile. Nishida checks in at 5-foot-6, 150 pounds on a good day, although he admitted to playing at 138-to-140 pounds during the past season.

Nishida’s 147 hits ranked second in ’24 to Tim Elko’s 156 within the White Sox, but 127 of those hits went for singles. So, the quest for added power becomes one offseason goal for Nishida.

“Yeah, I don’t want to change my baseball style, but I need some more training. I didn’t decide yet, but I want to get across 160 [pounds],” Nishida told MLB.com during a recent phone interview. “I feel like I don’t want to say like an exact [power] number. I'll just try to do the same things as this year for next year.

“Then, I think the numbers will come at the end of the season. I shouldn’t worry about any numbers before the season.”

To be honest, Nishida’s game never will be based on power after hitting one home run, 13 doubles and six triples over 587 plate appearances with Single-A Kannapolis, High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham as both a left fielder and second baseman. He has an exceptional batting eye as shown by his 86 walks and 64 strikeouts, but those numbers lead to another Nishida point of concern.

Forty-nine stolen bases (in 61 attempts) were extremely impressive. They weren’t enough in Nishida’s mind.

"I should get more," he said, noting that he doesn't hit a lot of homers or triples. "I have more opportunities than everybody. Next year, I’m going to try to get more."

"I had an opportunity on first base 230 times, so I should get more. At least 80, 90 stolen bases with [numbers] like this year."

A green light was in place for Nishida to run, but he had too much respect for the good hitters behind him to risk getting thrown out while being overly aggressive. When asked about those 114 runs scored, Nishida laughed and credited the rest of the lineup making it easy for him.

“Rikuu is the best kid. This kid is incredible,” said Birmingham pitching coach John Ely, who watched Nishida for 11 games and the postseason with the Barons. “He immediately walked in and was just a bright spot. Honestly, a big reason why we were able to win a championship down there.

“He solidified the middle infield a little bit, allowed us to do some things with the lineup where we can put guys who were out of position in different spots and DH them. Plus, my god, that kid is just a fan favorite and a team favorite. He’s immediately everybody’s friend. A hilarious kid.”

Yes, Nishida was part of the Barons’ Southern League title. He called the moment awesome, while adding he doesn’t really remember anything but the celebration following DJ Gladney’s walk-off single to sweep Montgomery in two games.

“There was nobody who said, 'I’m tired' or that stuff,” Nishida said. “Everybody was so excited, every single game. So, it was almost college baseball. That was fun.”

Will Nishida have that same sort of fun at the Major League level, maybe as soon as 2025? He’s more focused on individual improvements than where he might play next.

Even with that hoped for increase in power, though, Nishida knows he won’t match the prolific totals of countryman Shohei Ohtani, who is a finalist for his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League. Then again, Ohtani won’t top Nishida regarding enjoyment of the game.

“Every level, I had so much fun. But no, I cannot be Shohei,” Nishida said with a laugh. “He’s a pitcher, too. He has more stolen bases than me. That’s crazy. Ohtani is awesome. He’s the best baseball player so far.”