Andrew Benintendi was supposed to help push the White Sox’ contending window wide open when he signed the biggest contract in team history in 2023.
Instead, he found himself along for the ride as the wheels fell off during one of the worst stretches in Sox history.
Benintendi, 31, hardly has helped prevent the 312 losses that have piled up since he made it to 35th and Shields, falling far short of the $75 million expectations set under former general manager Rick Hahn’s tenure.
But he has flashed his onetime All-Star potential at the plate over the last month, finally contributing more than just his veteran wisdom to a roster packed with rookies. Benintendi has helped power an improved squad that maybe, just maybe, can avoid triple-digit losses for a third consecutive season.
Benintendi hit his 19th home run in the third inning of the Sox’ 6-5 victory Wednesday over the Rays, his fifth homer during a monthlong hot streak in which he has slashed .286/.336/.446. Those numbers include a torrid .385/.452/.885 stretch over the last week.
BENNY ‼️ pic.twitter.com/y8Q0acv5rh
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 11, 2025
The Sox have won eight of their last 10 games, keeping their hopes alive of dodging that century mark for losses. They’ll have to win seven of their last 16 games to do it.
Not that they’re all that worried about it, especially as they run a good 20 games ahead of the pace of last year’s all-time-worst 121-loss team.
“Maybe it’s in the back of our minds, but not really,” Benintendi said last month. “Especially coming off last year, we eclipsed that thing, that number already, so I think we’re just going to try to win as many games as possible.
“If it ends up you don’t lose 100, or even if you lose it, baby steps.”
Benintendi is sure to be taking those steps into the rebuilding future along with his younger teammates — whether general manager Chris Getz likes it or not, unless chairman Jerry Reinsdorf is willing to eat a big chunk of money.
There wasn’t a whisper of trade talk around Benintendi at the deadline this summer thanks to the $32.2 million left on the last two years of his contract through 2027.
He has a pedestrian .248/.311/.438 line this year, marginally better than his first two years with the Sox. Benintendi hit 20 dingers last year after smacking only five in his first season on the South Side.
But there aren’t any outfielders knocking on the door at Triple-A Charlotte. The Sox’ top prospect, outfielder Braden Montgomery, sparkled this year at Double-A Birmingham but figures to be at least another year away from making it to the majors.
Getz’s rebuild has been powered by infielders Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth, and Miguel Vargas and catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero. And the Sox will have a bevy of starting-pitching prospects to sort through next spring in Arizona.
That figures to leave Benintendi in line for steady playing time in left field, where the 2021 Gold Glover has lost a step, or at designated hitter on a team that still needs more power.
Manager Will Venable isn’t complaining.
“Benny’s very consistent in everything that he does,’’ Venable said.
‘‘He’s just a presence in our clubhouse, a presence on the field and just extremely reliable. And he wants to play. He’s a guy that always wants to be out there and more of a quiet leader. But watching him just kind of continue to work on his craft, go through his ups and downs and continue to put himself in a good spot to produce for us has been awesome.”