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Former Oregon Ducks star Rikuu Nishida earns MLB promotion

Oregon's Rikuu Nishida (56) steals second base ahead of the tag by Xavier second baseman Jared Cushing (32) in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament regional championship game Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.
Oregon's Rikuu Nishida (56) steals second base ahead of the tag by Xavier second baseman Jared Cushing (32) in the first inning of an NCAA college baseball tournament regional championship game Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. | Mark Zaleski/ The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Transfer Portal has allowed for programs to find and develop the most unlikely stars into household names within the program. For the Oregon Ducks, no one went from unknown to a fan favorite quicker than Rikuu Nishida on the 2023 baseball team. Mark Wasikowski and the staff added a relatively unknown player from local Mt. Hood Community College, and it proved to be one of the most impactful.

After finishing High School in Osaka, Japan, Rikuu Nishida almost gave up on baseball, but his father instead suggested moving to America to play. Moving to America landed Nishida at Gresham, Oregon's Mount Hood Community College. Impressive seasons in 2023 and 2024 for Nishida caught the attention of the Oregon Ducks landing Nishida with a Power 4 program, and the rest is history.

Rikuu Nishida earns MLB promotion to the Chicago White Sox

It appears that the recommendation from Rikuu Nishida's father was life changing advice as the former Oregon Ducks star has reportedly been called up to the MLB.

The news is incredible for Rikuu Nishida as he'll likely make his MLB Debut with the White Sox on Monday. Considering the path that Nishida took to playing baseball in America, and how quickly he's risen through the White Sox's farm system as a former 11th round pick, Nishida overcame the longest of odds.

During his time with the Ducks, Nishida helped the Ducks host a Super Regional during the 2023 season, earning All-Nashville Regional Team honors. Nishida posted a .312 batting average during his time at Oregon with a single-season program record of 25 stolen bases and a single-season record of 67 runs scored.

Nishida was picked by the White Sox in the 11th Round of the 2023 MLB Draft, and has posted a .347 batting average at AAA this season.

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