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Boston Red Sox REVISED Top 10 Prospects for 2017

By Benjamin Chase

Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; A general view of Boston Red Sox hat and glove laying in the dugout at a spring training baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Sarasota, FL, USA; A general view of Boston Red Sox hat and glove laying in the dugout at a spring training baseball game at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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1. Andrew Benintendi, OF

Birthdate: 7/6/94 (22 years old)
Level(s) Played in 2016: high-A, AA, MLB
Stats in 2016: .312/.378/.532, 9 HR, 16 SB

One of the striking things when you first see Benintendi just how small he is. He’s listed at 5’10” and 170 pounds, and both numbers may be generous. However, you’ll also notice upon closer examination that he has significant muscle build, including in his forearms and upper legs. For a guy with the reputation for smacking the ball the way Benintendi does, that’s a surprising sight!

Benintendi is probably not a guy with 30+ home run power or 30+ stolen base type of speed, however, he is a heady ball player that could steal 30 with the right type of offense around him or knock out 30 in the right park (and Boston certainly qualifies there.

What Benintendi will do that is incredibly impressive year in and year out will be hit. He’s got tremendous feel for the bat head in the zone and does an exceptional job at getting the bat in perfect position on the ball while also having his body in perfect explosive position to drive the ball.

Benintendi offers defense at a level to be an above-average center fielder, but playing left field as he will in Boston should allow Benintendi to be an elite defender.

While maybe not checking the elite HR or SB numbers off on a check list, Benintendi should be a guy who hits 30+ doubles, threatens double digits in triples, and puts up 20ish home runs each season while hitting .300 or better. That’s incredibly high value, even if it may not be the type of fantasy output that typically gets guys noticed.

Next: Newcomer to Watch

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