Boston Red Sox: Is Andrew Benintendi the Next Young Stud?
The Boston Red Sox sit in a playoff spot, mostly thanks to the great play of young players throughout this season. Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and Jackie Bradley Jr. are all poised to start, or at least make, the All-Star Game. None of those three have spent more than three years in Major League Baseball.
Both Betts and Bradley Jr. were drafted in the same year, which was a very productive draft for the Sox. The Red Sox worked hard to build a great farm system, and it has made a difference on the Major League team this year as they are in a playoff position and poised to make a run in their own division.
Betts, Bogaerts, and Bradley aren’t the only Boston prospects who are sure to make a splash in the big leagues. They have proven themselves now, but there is a stud in the minors whom the Red Sox believe can become a star. Andrew Benintendi is an outfielder currently playing at the AA level with the Portland Sea Dogs of the Eastern League. Benintendi played college baseball with the Arkansas Razorbacks until he was drafted with the 7th pick overall in the 2015 MLB Draft. In that 2015 season with the Razorbacks, Benintendi won multiple awards including the Golden Spikes Award for best player in college baseball.
More from Boston Red Sox
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Braves, Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox
- Boston Red Sox: The 4 players who are on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Stock Up, Stock Down: Two teams rising, two falling post-trade deadline
In just a short amount of time since the draft a year ago, he has worked his way to AA and impressed many people. Earlier this week it was reported that the Red Sox would likely hold him close to the vest during the trade deadline. His value would be great in a trade, but to the Red Sox his value as a future Boston player is even higher. They believe that he can be as good, if not even better, than Kyle Schwarber and Michael Conforto, who impressed many people in their Major League debuts in 2015.
He cruised his way through both A- and A+ during the 2015 season, but was never given the chance at a higher level in the short season. In 2016 he started at A+ before being moved up to AA after getting off to a blazing hot start hitting .341/.413/.563 during his first 155 plate appearances. Since his call-up he has spent his entire 2016 season with AA Portland Sea Dogs. He’s hitting .289/.343/.497 with 5 home runs in 175 plate appearances at that level. He also holds a wRC+ of 123 on the season with Portland. He isn’t burning the Eastern League up like he did at the lower levels, but a time of adjustment is to be expected.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
While Schwarber and Conforto had quick paths to Major League Baseball, Benintendi has taken the more common slow journey through the minor leagues. Just because he has taken longer to reach each level doesn’t mean he won’t be better than the two aforementioned players. However, both Schwarber and Conforto have proven themselves in Major League Baseball, which even some of the best prospects struggle to do.
The 2016 season hasn’t been kind to Schwarber, who suffered a season ending knee injury in the first week of the season, and Conforto, who was recently sent down to AAA to work on his game. Their 2015 seasons, however, speak volumes about the type of player both of them are. The Red Sox aren’t incorrect in their hope or belief that Benintendi will reach that same level. He has star potential, as he showed during his impressive years in college.
Whether or not Benintendi will reach that potential is yet to be seen. One thing is for sure, that the Red Sox aren’t letting him out of their grasp anytime soon.