Chicago White Sox Suffer Tough Break as Key Starter Will Miss at Least a Month with Injury

Chicago White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi will miss 4-6 weeks after being diagnosed with a hand fracture following a hit-by-pitch during Thursday’s spring training game. As a result, he will be unavailable for Opening Day on March 27.

Update, Friday AM: Benintendi was diagnosed with a non-displaced fracture in his right hand, which will sideline him for the start of the season.

Thursday, PM: Benintendi, 30, left Thursday’s game early due to discomfort in his right hand after being hit by a pitch from the Cleveland Guardians.

Benintendi, who signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the White Sox before the 2023 season, is one of the team’s few high-earning players. He’s coming off a season in which he hit .229 with 20 home runs and 64 RBI, marking a power resurgence after hitting just five homers in both 2022 and 2023. The 20 home runs matched his career high, which he first set in 2017 with the Red Sox.

A former Gold Glove winner (2021) and All-Star (2022), Benintendi was an integral part of the Red Sox’s 2018 World Series championship team alongside Mookie Betts and Jackie Bradley Jr., forming one of the league’s top outfield trios.

For the White Sox, this injury is another challenge as they look to rebound from a rough 2023 season. While the team traded All-Star Garrett Crochet during the offseason, they have several promising young prospects, including catcher Kyle Teel and pitcher Noah Schultz, who could make an impact this season.

The White Sox have several more weeks of spring training before their regular season opener against the Los Angeles Angels on March 27.