Beantown Benny: Boston’s Future Superstar

Photo of Courier Staff Courier StaffAugust 23, 2016Last Updated: August 23, 2016

With the seventh overall pick of the 2015 MLB Draft, the Boston Red Sox selected Andrew Benintendi. The 5’10” left fielder bats and throws lefty. If you watch this video it is quite obvious that Boston had a lot to look forward to after they drafted the Arkansas alum.

After 151 minor league games, the Sox called up Andrew Benintendi, their #2 prospect. Beantown Benny left the minor leagues with a .312 avg, 26 stolen bases, 107 runs batted in, and 178 hits (38 doubles, 16 triples, and 20 home runs). On August 2, 2016, Benintendi got the call.

After making his debut on August 2nd, Benintendi started for the first time on August 3rd. In the bottom of the third, Benintendi stepped up to the plate for his first at bat of the game. After a first pitch strike, Benintendi sliced the second pitch of the at-bat into left field for his first hit.

3 days later, the Sox faced the Los Angeles Dodgers. Benintendi notched three hits, and his second hit of the game lead to his first RBI.

On August 9th, the kid made his Fenway Park debut.

The Sox took on rival New York Yankees, and Benintendi was batting ninth and playing left field. The rookie started things off very well with the Fenway faithful, he went 3 for 3 and immediately became a crowd favorite, after all, he helped the Sox defeat the Yankees, how could Boston fans not love him?

This past weekend, the Sox wrapped up a series with Detroit. In the final game of the series, the Red Sox lost by a score of 10 to five, but there was one bright spot for the Sox in the series finale.

Last night, Boston opened up a series with the Rays on the road. Benintendi loves showing off his power at the plate, he really does, but he decided that it was time to show Sox fans what he can do with a glove. On a 1-0 count, Tampa Bay outfielder Steven Souza Jr. hit what he thought was a home run to left field. Benintendi had other plans. The rookie ran over to the wall, leaped at just about the 315 sign and brought the baseball back into the yard, preventing two runs from scoring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58UErX-w4QQ

When a rookie is called up for the first time, he usually doesn’t adjust as quickly as Benintendi has, and he usually doesn’t have as big of an impact as Benintendi has. The kid is talented. Boston fans have something to be excited about. Boston has a superstar on their hands, and he’s getting better at just the right time. Benintendi is legit, and he is going to do everything he can to help the Red Sox make it back to the playoffs. While nothing is guaranteed, and nobody kmows what Benintendi could go on to do, there is one thing we can all agree on:

Photo of Courier Staff Courier StaffAugust 23, 2016Last Updated: August 23, 2016