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Boston Red Sox Scouting Report on OF Andrew Benintendi

By Benjamin Chase

Aug 22, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) on deck to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 22, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) on deck to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 22, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) on deck to bat against the Tampa Bay Rays during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Boston Red Sox saw OF Andrew Benintendi jump from 2015 draft pick to the major leagues in 2016. What is his future?

Player Profile

Benintendi was originally drafted out of high school in Ohio by his hometown Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the 2013 draft, but he chose instead to attend the University of Arkansas.

This was indeed a fortuitous decision as he tore apart the SEC, especially in his draft season, when he hit .376/.488/.717 with 20 home runs and 24 stolen bases against some of the best college baseball talent in the game.

While there were questions about his size, the Red Sox ignored those and chose Benintendi at #7 overall in the 2015 draft.

Benintendi began his professional career in the New York-Penn League, and in 35 games there he showed that his college performance was no fluke, quickly earning a promotion to low-A Greenville in the South Atlantic League for the final 19 games of the season.

Combined between the two levels, Benintendi hit .313/.416/.556 with 11 home runs, 10 stolen bases, and a 35/24 BB/K ratio. The crazy thing to consider is that if you add in his collegiate season, in the calendar year of 2015, Benintendi was a 30/30 guy with 31 combined home runs and 34 combined stolen bases in just 119 combined games and 424 at bats.

After the season, ranking services took note of his performance, ranking him #15 overall in Baseball America, #25 overall by MLB.com and #46 by Baseball Prospectus.

Benintendi began his 2016 season with a loaded Salem lineup in the high-A Carolina League, and he moved quickly, only spending 34 games with Salem. He was promoted to AA Portland in the Eastern League, but to open August, he was brought to Boston.

He combined in the minor leagues in 2016 to hit .312/.378/.532 with nine home runs and 16 stolen bases (along with 31 doubles and 12 triples), while posting a 39/39 BB/K ratio.

Benintendi hit very well in his pro debut, falling just short of passing rookie requirements, which allowed him to be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2017 and for prospect lists in the 2016-2017 offseason. With Boston, he hit .295/.359/.476 with two home runs and a stolen base, posting a 10/25 BB/K ratio.

Next: Benintendi's scouting report

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