White Sox designate OF Jarred Kelenic for assignment

Field Level Media|published: 05/25/2026, 11:52am EDT

Mar 13, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox outfielder Jarred Kelenic against the Chicago Cubs during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Chicago White Sox designated outfielder Jarred Kelenic for assignment on Monday.

The move cleared room to promote Japanese infielder/outfielder Rikuu Nishida from Triple-A Charlotte.

Kelenic, 26, hit .226 with one homer and four RBIs in 19 games in his first season with Chicago.

A first-round pick (sixth overall) by the New York Mets in 2018, Kelenic is a career .211 hitter with 50 home runs and 160 RBIs in 426 games with the Seattle Mariners (2021-23), Atlanta Braves (2024-25) and White Sox.

Nishida, 25, is batting .347 with one homer, 10 RBIs and nine steals in 33 games this season at Charlotte. He began the season at Double-A Birmingham and earned a quick promotion.

When he makes his major league debut, Nishida will become the fifth Japanese-born player to play for Chicago: first baseman Munetaka Murakami (2026), outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and right-hander Shingo Takatsu (2004-05).

--Field Level Media