Andrew Benintendi

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #1 prospect in 2017
  Benintendi was one of the top high school hitters in Ohio history and also drafted by the Reds in the 31st round but opted to head to Arkansas. After a modest freshman season with the Razorbacks, Benintendi passed on playing in summer leagues, instead focusing on improving his strength and conditioning. The result was a spectacular 2015 season that saw him lead the country with 20 home runs on the way to winning BA College Player of the Year and vaulted him to top-of-the-first-round status. The Red Sox selected him seventh overall. Benintendi confirmed the expectation that he could take the fast track to the big leagues by flying through high Class A Salem and Double-A Portland--he batted .312/.378/.532 in 97 games--en route to a callup to Boston at the beginning of August. He missed three weeks with a knee injury but returned in September. He homered in his first postseason plate appearance and put together the best at-bats of any Red Sox hitter in their American League Division Series loss to the Indians. Multiple evaluators believe that Benintendi has a chance to be a perennial all-star who competes for batting titles. "He's a once-in-a-decade hitter," one said. Benintendi combines excellent hand-eye coordination with the pitch recognition to avoid strike zone expansion. His precisely-tuned swing, with his strong forearms and core along with a rare knack for putting the bat on the ball, allow him to drive the ball with surprising authority given his diminutive stature. Another evaluator thought Benintendi's upside was that of a 20-25 home run player with 50 doubles. More conservative views of his abilities still suggest an everyday player with a plus hit tool, which would make him an ideal No. 2 hitter with modest extra-base abilities but whose lack of weakness will minimize slumps. Though he hit just .179 in 28 at-bats against big league lefthanders, his willingness to use the whole field mitigates long-term platoon concerns. Defensively, Benintendi has the ability to play center field at an above-average level, though with Jackie Bradley in center and Mookie Betts in right in Boston, he appears destined for left where his plus range will be barely taxed playing in front of the Green Monster. Benintendi isn't a burner on the bases, but his baserunning impact exceeds his pure speed, which grades as above-average. In short, evaluators see a player who does everything well while displaying phenomenal makeup that could make him a cornerstone for years to come. Benintendi seems almost certain to open 2017 in the same role he occupied at the end of 2016: a near-everyday outfielder in the big leagues. Depending on how his game evolves--whether to feature more power or take more walks--it would come as little surprise to see him occupying one of the top three spots in the Red Sox lineup for years to come.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #3 prospect in 2016
  After injuries impaired his performance as an Arkansas freshman, Benintendi dedicated his summer to strength training rather than playing in a wood-bat league. As a sophomore in 2015, his stock soared when he hit .376/.488/.717 with a Division I-best 20 homers en route to the Golden Spikes and BA College Player of the Year awards. The Red Sox selected him seventh overall and signed him for $3.59 million, a franchise record for a draft pick. Many view Benintendi as the system's top prospect, given that he could quickly become an above-average big leaguer. Though so small that his name is difficult to squeeze across his jersey back, he finished his pro debut at low Class A Greenville and hit a cumulative .313/.416/.556 with 11 homers in 54 games. Benintendi's exceptional approach helps him unlock surprising thunder. Though he's not a burner, he glides to the ball with advanced instincts, convincing most evaluators that he can be at least an average center field defender. His size raises some injury concerns, and it's worth noting that he was sidelined for much of the instructional league as the Red Sox cautiously rehabbed his quadriceps injury. Benintendi probably will start 2016 at high Class A Salem, but he could develop quickly and be a starting outfielder in Boston by the end of 2017.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #9 prospect in 2015 draft
  A draft-eligible sophomore, Benintendi's draft stock has skyrocketed this spring thanks to the loudest season of any college player. Benintendi ranks among the top 10 in Division I in batting average, on-base percentage and leads the nation in slugging percentage while playing in the always competitive Southeastern Conference. Benintendi came from off many teams' radars. He didn't play summer ball last year and some scouts may not have even realized he was draft eligible at the start of the year. But a who's-who of scouting directors and front-office officials are flying in to see him now as they realize he may be the best combination of athleticism and production in this college class. A very productive but slight outfielder (and basketball guard) in high school, he's added excellent strength these past two years. He has extremely strong forearms and has shown plus raw power that plays in games, with the ability to drive the ball to all fields but with most of his home runs coming to his pull side. And he does it with a very balanced approach and excellent pitch recognition. He's striking out in only 11 percent of plate appearances, while getting extra-base hits in 13 percent of his plate appearances. He is also a legitimate center fielder with above-average to plus run times and excellent reads and instincts. The only real knocks on Benintendi are his size (he's 5-foot-10) and the lack of a lengthy track record.
• Ranked #486 prospect in 2013 draft
  The 2012 Ohio high school Division III player of the year in both baseball and basketball, Benintendi notched his 201st career hit in early May. It was believed to be a state record, though further review showed that Mark Lewis (the second overall pick in the 1989 draft) had 222. Benintendi is a gifted lefthanded hitter, though at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds he has yet to grow into much power. Area scouts see him as similar to former Ohio prep standout Austin Cousino, who is now at Kentucky, though Cousino is faster and has a looser swing. Benintendi has plus speed to go with solid center-field skills and an average arm. He was crosschecked but may not be signable outside of the third round and likely is headed to Arkansas.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Carolina League #2 prospect in 2016
  Benintendi, the seventh overall pick in 2015 who signed for a Red Sox draft-pick record $3.59 million, played his way out of the Carolina League by May 16. He drove the ball consistently at Salem and then again in the Double-A Eastern League before moving to the big leagues in August. Benintendi is an above-average runner with strong wrists and forearms as well as plate discipline. That combination makes him a hitting machine. Salem manager Joe Oliver said Benintendi was quick to recognize how teams tried to pitch him, showing excellent aptitude. He also lauded Benintendi's strong ability to read balls off the bat in center field, where he has an above-average arm.
• 
  Ranked Eastern League #2 prospect in 2016
  The College Player of the Year in 2015, Benintendi rocketed through the minors in his first full pro season. Presently locked out of center field in Boston by Jackie Bradley, Benintendi possesses the speed and smarts to handle left field--or center, if it opens. Armed with a smooth, balanced lefthanded swing, he keeps the barrel in the hitting zone a long time, sprays line drives to all sectors and has surprising power for someone of his 5-foot-10 stature. Benintendi has above-average speed that serves him well, though he needs to improve his technique and efficiency after being caught nearly half the time at Portland. He sprained his knee late in the season with Boston but returned in mid-September and looks like a long-term everyday contributor.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #1 prospect in 2015
  Not every manager could remember how to pronounce Benintendi's last name--he was in the league for just 35 games--but they all remembered the swing. Short, direct and powerful, that same swing propelled Benintendi to a .376/.488/.717, 20-homer season with Omaha-bound Arkansas in the spring, earning him College Player of the Year honors and thrusting the draft-eligible sophomore into the first round. So far, the seventh overall pick has made a seamless transition from metal bats to wood. Between Lowell and low Class A Greenville--where he was promoted on Aug. 17--Benintendi hit 11 home runs in 198 at-bats, batting .313/.416/.556 overall. What he lacks in sheer size, he makes up for in strength in his forearms and wrists, creating leverage and generating pull-side backspin. He adds above-average speed, excellent reads and instincts in center field and an advanced plate approach. "He really knew how to play," Brooklyn manager Tom Gamboa said. "There was no mistake, just with pure hitting ability, he might have the best swing that I've seen this year in the league."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #1 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #15 prospect in 2016

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Benintendi was one of the top high school hitters in Ohio history and also drafted by the Reds in the 31st round but opted to head to Arkansas. After a modest freshman season with the Razorbacks, Benintendi passed on playing in summer leagues, instead focusing on improving his strength and conditioning. The result was a spectacular 2015 season that saw him lead the country with 20 home runs on the way winning BA College Player of the Year and vaulted him to top-of-the-first-round status. The Red Sox selected him seventh overall. Benintendi confirmed the expectation that he could take fast track to the big leagues by flying through high Class A Salem and Double-A Portland--he batted .312/.378/.532 in 97 games--en route to a callup to Boston at the beginning of August. He missed three weeks with a knee injury but returned in September. He homered in his first postseason plate appearance and put together the best at-bats of any Red Sox hitter in their American League Division Series loss to the Indians. Scouting Report: Multiple evaluators believe that Benintendi has a chance to be a perennial all-star who competes for batting titles. "He's a once-in-a-decade hitter," one said. Benintendi combines excellent hand-eye coordination with the pitch recognition to avoid strike zone expansion. His precisely-tuned swing, with his strong forearms and core along with a rare knack for putting the bat on the ball, allow him to drive the ball with surprising authority given his diminutive stature. Another evaluator thought Benintendi's upside was that of a 20-25 home run player with 50 doubles. More conservative views of his abilities still suggest an everyday player with a plus hit tool, which would make him an ideal No. 2 hitter with modest extra-base abilities but whose lack of weakness will minimize slumps. Though he hit just .179 in 28 at-bats against big league lefthanders, his willingness to use the whole field mitigates long-term platoon concerns. Defensively, Benintendi has the ability to play center field at an above-average level, though with Jackie Bradley in center and Mookie Betts in right in Boston, he appears destined for left where his plus range will be barely taxed playing in front of the Green Monster. Benintendi isn't a burner on the bases, but his baserunning impact exceeds his pure speed, which grades as above-average. In short, evaluators see a player who does everything well while displaying phenomenal makeup that could make him a cornerstone for years to come. The Future: Benintendi seems almost certain to open 2017 in the same role he occupied at the end of 2016: a near-everyday outfielder in the big leagues. Depending on how his game evolves--whether to feature more power or take more walks--it would come as little surprise to see him occupying one of the top three spots in the Red Sox lineup for years to come.