The Chicago White Sox were in tack-on mode in the second inning Monday against the Minnesota Twins.

Already ahead by four runs, the Sox were in position for more with two on and two outs in the inning. Andrew Benintendi jumped on a first-pitch changeup from Twins starter Chris Paddack and drilled it over the right-field wall for a three-run home run.

It was the 100th home run of Benintendi’s career.

But the left fielder wasn’t aware that he had reached that milestone until well after circling the bases.

“To be honest, at the time I didn’t really know until (fellow outfielder) Austin Slater said something,” Benintendi said before Tuesday’s game against the Twins at Rate Field. “But it’s cool to see.”

Benintendi’s spring was slowed after he suffered a nondisplaced fracture in his right hand on Feb. 27. Despite missing time in camp, he’s displayed plenty of power through the first four games of the regular season. Benintendi was 3-for-13 with two walks, two home runs and six RBIs entering Tuesday. He leads the Sox in home runs and RBIs.

“I feel pretty good,” Benintendi said. “I think that, all things considered, it’s going pretty well. I know I’ll have to sprinkle in a single every once in a while because you can’t rely on the homer. I’m hitting the ball hard, but a few balls hit hard for outs.”

When Benintendi initially suffered the injury, an opening-day return looked like a long shot. But he made his way back into the lineup late during spring training and was ready to go for the regular season.

“I think you have a timeline for yourself,” Benintendi said. “Certain number of swings where you feel comfortable and I think I did that late in spring there, just getting those at-bats in the back field and then some live BPs. I usually get off to a super slow start — I think last year I was 3-for-(33) — so it’s good to get that number already.”

Manager Will Venable noted Benintendi’s timing as well.

“He missed that chunk in spring training toward the end, but he’s a professional hitter,” Venable said. “He was ready to go and for him to take some nice swings has been nice.”

The Sox as a whole have shown some power.

They entered Tuesday tied for fourth in the American League with seven home runs — including three on opening day against the Los Angeles Angels and three on Monday. It’s the third time in franchise history the Sox have recorded two three-plus home run games in the first four contests of a season, previously accomplishing the feat in 1994 and 2018.

“I’m not sure what our numbers were last year, but seems like we’re running the ball out the ballpark a little bit more, especially early here in the cold,” Benintendi said. “I’m sure once it warms up, it’ll carry a little bit better.”

Benintendi fondly remembers the carry of his first career big-league home run, a two-run blast on Aug. 21, 2016, in the seventh inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park while he was with the Boston Red Sox.

“I was kind of surprised when that one went out because I got jammed on a little bit and I was like, ‘Oh, these are big-league baseballs,’” Benintendi said with a smile. “I remember that being my thought. It was a long time ago and finally got to 100.”

While torpedo bats have received plenty of buzz, Benintendi said he’s “used the same bat for nine years, so I think I’ll stick with that.”

Benintendi led the White Sox with 20 home runs last season — matching a career high. And he’s off to a nice start in that department in 2025.

“I think I either have to hit .300 or run some homers out and I think the pitching now is so good — bullpens are so good, starters throw so hard — it’s not that I can’t hit .300, but I think it’s more attainable for me to hit for a little more slug than average,” Benintendi said. “Ideally, you want to do both, which is obviously possible. If I can hit 25-30, that’d be awesome.”

Mike Tauchman and Tyler Gilbert begin injury rehab assignments with Charlotte

Sox outfielder Mike Tauchman and pitcher Tyler Gilbert began injury rehab assignments with Triple-A Charlotte on Tuesday.

Tauchman is recovering from a right hamstring strain. Gilbert is working his way back from left knee bursitis.

“We want to be responsible with his health and make sure that he builds up volume on his legs and can get through it and recover the right way,” Venable said of Tauchman. “And at the same time, get at-bats to be prepared. We’re going to be flexible with that. We’re not going to put a hard timeline on it.

“And then Gilbert has a plan too, it’ll be a few outings there to make sure the same thing — that he’s healthy but also built up and ready to go when he is there.”

The Sox said infielder Josh Rojas is still a bit away from a rehab assignment as he deals with a right toe fracture.

“Kind of at the mercy of that bone healing,” Venable said. “He’s a tough guy. The pain tolerance is there, he just can’t do the things that he wants to do on the field and he’s hurt a little bit.

“So, we’re going to be patient with it. He wants to be here more than anybody as soon as possible. We’re kind of just taking that one day by day, too.”