CHICAGO – Shogo Akiyama has remained upbeat and professional as he spends most games on the bench, but there is nothing easy about it.
Akiyama has started only five games since he was activated from the injured list on May 7, the odd man out among the outfielders.
This is a player who was the Cincinnati Reds’ most consistent hitter last September when they made their playoff push. He started 825 consecutive games in Japan before signing with the Reds, so it’s an unfamiliar position.
He’s behind Tyler Naquin on the depth chart for center field as Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker start in the corners. He understands it, but he’s a competitor, too.
“As a player, I have to be playing every day,” Akiyama said, according to team interpreter Luke Shinoda. “But asking myself, looking at the performances that all three outfielders are doing, I wouldn’t even be sure if I would use myself too for starting every day. That’s just the reality and that’s the situation we’re stuck in right now.”
