Boston Red Sox Andrew Benintendi Making Impression
By David Hill
It has not taken long for the Boston Red Sox first round pick, Andrew Benintendi, to make an impression upon the team. Normally, first round picks, even those who are drafted seventh overall, spend time in the lower minors before moving up through the system in the following years. However, that has not been the case for Benintendi.
Benintendi impressed during his time with the Lowell Spinners, producing a .290/.408/.540 batting line with seven home runs and seven stolen bases. His advanced batting approach, something that had been touted when he was drafted, was certainly evident, as Benintendi drew 25 walks against 15 strikeouts in 153 plate appearances.
Promoted to the Greenville Drive of the South Atlantic League, Benintendi has not missed a beat. In the extremely small sample size of 21 plate appearances heading into last night, Benintendi has drawn five walks while striking out twice. Of his six hits, Benintendi has two home runs for the Drive, displaying an impressive power stroke.
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That patience at the plate is likely to serve Andrew Benintendi well as he climbs up through the Boston Red Sox system. By keeping his excellent approach and his stellar batting eye intact, the adjustment period as Benintendi rises through the ranks is likely to be minimized. He would be able to look for pitches in his zone, driving them for extra bases or drawing walks.
With a skillset that has been compared favorably to Kole Calhoun, or even former Red Sox fan favorite Trot Nixon, Benintendi may turn out to be better than either player. Even if he is unable to remain in center long term, his all around game on offense, and his solid defensive profile should make him an asset wherever he ends up.
It is a long way from Greenville to the major leagues. Plenty of prospects look great at the beginning of their careers, only to falter along the way as the become exposed at the higher levels. Yet, with his approach at the plate, Benintendi may be able to avoid such a fate as he continues his journey, as that patience can be a true asset.
Andrew Benintendi may not currently be the highest rated prospect on the Boston Red Sox, since that honor is still held down by Yoan Moncada, but he may be the most well rounded player in their system. Do not be surprised if he continues to hit well in the minor leagues and makes an appearance at the major league level sometime next season.