Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi was recently put on the disabled list; however, the breakout star was recorded running well on his own power.
Benintendi was the hottest thing happening to Boston, at least until the Yoan Moncada call-up. He was picked seventh overall by the Red Sox in last year’s draft, only to make a rocket rise up the minor league ranks. He started playing left field in early August and never looked back.
That is, until a base-running tag left him face down in the dirt, grimacing in pain, against the Tampa Bay Rays on August 24th.
In 68 at-bats, Benintendi hit a slash line of .324/.365/.485, recording his first MLB home run and 10 RBIs. He already had a stolen base and six doubles before spraining his left knee. Manager John Farrell was one of two men who had to help Benintendi support his weight and limp off of the field. The Red Sox placed the 22-year-old native of Cincinnati, Ohio on the 15-day disabled list the next day.
Ryan Hannable of WEEI.com reported an update on Benintendi’s condition two days after the injury: “It looked like it could potentially be a season-ending injury, but after a series of tests on Friday, it was learned he just has a knee sprain and the team is optimistic he can return this season.” Benintendi, himself, said, “The more I walked on it, the better it’s felt over the last few days […] I am pretty positive about how it’s gone so far.”
That positivity looks to be well-founded, after some evidence surfaced.
In warmups for Boston’s game last night against the Oakland Athletics, Hannable’s colleague Rob Bradford tweeted this video, inspiring hope for Red Sox Nation that Benintendi will, indeed, return at some point before the season is over:
Benintendi is running down home team's sideline pic.twitter.com/kublrkgpdi
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) September 2, 2016
Not only is this video good news for Benintendi, it’s fantastic news for the Red Sox. Benintendi is, by far, Boston’s first choice to get the start in left field.
The best possible replacement is Brock Holt, hitting .272 with a .434 slugging percentage, both much lower than the rookie. With Blake Swihart still out with a left ankle sprain that just can’t seem to heal, Rusney Castillo still floating in Triple-A limbo, and Bryce Brentz growing dusty on the bench since August 10th, Chris Young has been called upon to play left field. Yet, the 32-year-old’s .268 batting average is still a far cry from Benintendi’s popping potential.
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While Benintendi continues to heal, Young and Holt will likely be the alternatives. How long that will be still remains to be seen. One thing is certain: that video must warm the hearts of any and all Benintendi supporters, including the ones in the Red Sox dugout and their home office.