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Boston Red Sox: Benintendi to bat third in 2017 lineup

By s.a. rose

Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to third after tagging on a sacrifice fly during the first inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to third after tagging on a sacrifice fly during the first inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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The preseason AL co-favorite Boston Red Sox are contemplating an adjustment to their every day line-up for a rookie with 118 at-bats last season. Of course, it is not just any rookie.

Ranked the top prospect in baseball by Baseball America, Andrew Benintendi is expected to be one of the more dangerous hitters in what was already a very potent Boston Red Sox lineup in 2016, led by Mookie Betts, the runner-up for AL MVP.   The question this pre-season is where is the optimal spot in the line-up for the impressive Red Sox rookie.

Adding the hitting potential of Benintendi to a lineup with 2B Dustin Pedroia, SS Xander Bogaerts, RF Mookie Betts, and likely 1B/DH Hanley Ramirez is a classic case of the rich getting richer as the Red Sox led the majors in runs and on-base percentage last season.

The one flaw that could be found in the Red Sox lineup is the fact that their four most dangerous hitters all bat right-handed. Putting a left-handed hitter near the top of the order could remedy that and provide a strategic edge. While Jackie Bradley Jr. and new addition Mitch Moreland both hit from the left side, it seems the best left-handed hitter on the team has already been decided this early in spring training.

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While many pundits expected Benintendi to bat at the bottom of the order and be eased into the season as part of a left-field platoon with Chris Young, manager John Farrell is having none of it.

Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal is saying that Farrell is seriously considering hitting Benintendi third in the order and thinks the rookie is capable of producing at that very important spot in the line-up.  If stats in spring training are any indication, Benintendi should be just fine as he is off to a hot start hitting .409 with two home runs and an OPS of 1.298 in his first 23 at-bats.

Surrounded by dangerous hitters, Benintendi would be expected to be an offensive contributor right out of the gate and he will likely challenge former Red Sox prospect Yoan Moncada for AL rookie of the year this season.

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The faith the Red Sox are showing in Benintendi to produce should signal his bright future and if all goes according to their plan, the Red Sox will continue to be top (or at least among the league leaders) in runs and OBP, even in the absence of their most feared hitter (David Ortiz) of the past decade.

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