White Sox’ contending window opening just in time for Andrew Benintendi

ARLINGTON, Texas — Ten years of MLB service time went by fast for White Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi, for the most part.

“I remember coming up, guys saying, ‘Enjoy it, because it’s going to go fast,’” the veteran designated hitter said this week in the visitors’ clubhouse at Globe Life Field, a week after hitting the career milestone that locks up a fully vested pension.

“Maybe the last few years haven’t felt as fast,” the understated Benintendi said, nodding to his first three miserable seasons after signing the biggest free-agent contract in Sox history at five years and $75 million. “But it’s been good overall.”

And it’s getting better this season. After weathering the worst one in baseball history in 2024, enduring a brutal 324 losses over the first three years of his deal and falling far short of expectations, Benintendi has found a quietly productive groove while serving a lesser role than he envisioned when he arrived on the South Side.

The former Gold Glover barely ever plays the outfield anymore, was platooned at DH early in the year and often finds himself in the lower half of manager Will Venable’s batting order.

But a pair of RBI singles from Benintendi in Wednesday’s 4-2 series-clinching win at Texas raised his RBI total to 52, third-highest on the team and well on pace to breaking his previous high with the Sox (64 in ‘24). His 16 two-baggers are fourth-most on the Sox, who moved a game ahead in the American League Central with the Guardians’ loss.

With the upstart Sox playing their best baseball since 2021, Benintendi is enjoying the contending atmosphere he initially signed up for — and having the most fun he’s had in years.

He’s hitting .245/.306/.426, hardly overwhelming numbers alongside the breakout seasons of Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery — but “they stand out to me,” Venable said.

“He’s made a huge impact. I feel like he’s coming through in these spots with his experience that he has,” Venable said. “He’s been in these spots before and you know he’s got the ability and the demeanor to deal with them.”

Benintendi’s line includes 10 home runs, plenty of them well-timed. His teammates are quick to point to his ninth-inning, three-run blast at Arizona on April 23 as a pivotal moment for a squad that appeared headed for familiar struggles over the first few weeks of the season.

Then there was his eighth-inning, pinch-hit grand slam last month at Yankee Stadium providing another massive jolt for a young team out to prove their stunning first-half success was no fluke.

All the better for Benintendi, who won a World Series with Boston in 2018, that a clubhouse full of young grinders are taking the reins.

“It helps a lot,” Benintendi said. “It seems if we get a few guys on, we can put up a lot of runs pretty quickly. It’s fun to be a part of this lineup.”

He’s the first one to point out that it’s the next generation powering their division race.

“The pitchers are giving us a good chance, they’re going out there pumping the zone and keeping the other team off-balanced, throwing up zeroes, limiting damage when they are getting baserunners.” Benintendi said. “They’re getting us back in the dugouts with bats in our hands. Clearly, we’re a pretty streaky team when we get some guys on, so it’s been good.”

The second-year manager Venable is grateful for the clubhouse counsel as well.

“It has meant a lot, a guy who has the experience and the wisdom of 10 years in the big leagues,” Venable said. “You also have a guy that’s creating a lot of space for these young players to be leaders and supporting them to advance in their careers, both in the clubhouse and on the field. He’s been a special addition for us.”