Red Sox Prospect Watch: Stars of the Future
By Mike El-Far
The man, the myth, the legend that is Andrew Benintendi is technically still a prospect. According to Major League Baseball, a position player exceeds rookie status when they have 130 at-bats at the major league level. Benintendi logged on 105 last season, and will lose his rookie status by the second week of the season.
But, for now he is a prospect, so let’s dive into what makes him so successful. Not long ago, Benintendi was a star outfielder at the University of Arkansas. His 2015 season was one to be remembered, as he won the Golden Spikes Award. That is the award given to the best player in college. He was able to beat out two other highly touted prospects, Dansby Swanson and Alex Bregman.
He was drafted 7th by the Boston Red Sox, and many analysts proclaimed that he was “the most MLB ready position player in the draft.” Now, it is clear to see why those analysts get paid the big bucks. Benintendi moved through 4 levels of MiLB, all in a little over 12 months. Through those levels, one thing was very evident: this kid could hit the ball anywhere and everywhere.
Making his debut on August 2nd, Benintendi showcased his skills at the highest level. He was able to hit .295 in over 30 games, and showcase his defensive skills.
So what is next for Benintendi? He is entering 2017 as the everyday left fielder, and I forsee him improving on his rookie year. ZiPS is projecting his 2017 season with a .278/12/62. I think that is fair, but I do think Benintendi has the ability to hit .290+ for the whole year. At just 22, this is someone who will be a force in Boston for many years to come.