GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox outfielder/designated hitter Andrew Benintendi hasn’t played in a spring game since Wednesday with what he said Monday has been general soreness in his right side.

Barring any setbacks, he told the Sun-Times he expects to be back in the lineup for the Sox’ night game Thursday against the Guardians.

‘‘It’s early in camp, and we are just being cautious,’’ he said.

Manager Will Venable confirmed the plan before the Sox’ Cactus League game Monday against the Giants.

‘‘He’ll be ready Thursday, we think,’’ Venable said. ‘‘He was swinging today, running around today. He’d probably play if it wasn’t March 2. We’ll give him a couple of more days and get him back out there.’’

The Sox will play the Padres on Tuesday, then will enjoy a day off Wednesday. Given that the game Thursday is at night, that will give Benintendi a good portion of the week off.

He has played in only three spring games and has three hits in seven at-bats, two of them doubles.

Benintendi is coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season that began when he missed most of spring training after being hit by a pitch and suffering a non-displaced fracture in his right hand. Upon returning in April, he was sidelined by a strained left abductor. The Sox then shut him down in September because of tendinitis in his left Achilles tendon.

In all, Benintendi played in only 116 games, batting .240 with 20 home runs, 63 RBI and a 104 OPS+, just four points above the major-league average.

At 31 and going into his 11th big-league season, Benintendi senses he’s at a crossroads.

‘‘We’re not getting any younger,’’ he said. ‘‘Sometimes it’s one thing after another.’’

Asked what it has been like to be part of another Sox rebuild, he said: ‘‘We’re a couple of years into it now, so it feels less like a rebuild. Guys are getting solidified. We brought in a lot of new guys, and it will be a big year for a lot of guys coming back.’’

He’s one of them.

Martin eyes Opening Day, leader role

Right-hander Davis Martin, who started against the Giants, said he’s vying to make the Opening Day start March 26 against the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Martin, who yielded three runs and four hits, struck out two and walked two in three innings, also said he is eyeing a leadership role on the team.

‘‘Everybody is leaning into leadership,’’ Martin said. ‘‘It’s more organic than anything. I don’t think anybody has taken it upon themselves to be, ‘I’m the leader. I’m the king.’ Everybody has their areas of expertise. I still have to go in and ask questions. It’s a beautiful thing about this game: You’re never done evolving. If I’m in a leadership role, great. I’m going to be myself.’’

When he was asked about starting on Opening Day, he said: ‘‘Is it wide-open? I have no idea. We’re going to compete like it’s wide-open.’’

Giants 6, Sox 5

Sox starter Davis Martin allowed three runs, all in the third inning. He walked Buddy Kennedy and Jesus Rodriguez back-to-back before left fielder Jarred Kelenic lost a fly ball in the sun, resulting in a run-scoring double. Martin, however, took responsibility.

“Yeah, yeah, but I can’t walk the two guys in front of him,’’ he said. ‘‘I always blame myself. That’s accountability.’’

• MLB announced its Spring Breakout, which is scheduled for March 19-22 this year, will become a tournament next year. The teams will be made up of prospects from all 30 major-league clubs, with the Cactus League and Grapefruit League each crowning a champion. It will feature a single-elimination format.

• Kelenic, who is in camp as a non-roster invitee, went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI, but he’s still hitting only .176 for the spring. Kennedy hit the go-ahead home run for the Giants in the ninth.

• On deck: Padres at Sox, 2:05 p.m. Tuesday, Glendale, Nick Pivetta vs. Sean Newcomb.