Red Sox Debate: Brighter MLB future – Andrew Benintendi or Aaron Judge
By Sean Penney
Just as the advanced metrics show us that Benitendi’s production at the plate will improve, the scouting reports and eye test suggest that his defensive metrics will trend upwards as well. Once he puts it all together, the gap in value between he and Judge will shrink.
Keep in mind that Benintendi is also three years younger than the Yankees slugger. Most players his age are still climbing their way up the minor league ladder, yet Benny has proven he belongs at this level.
No matter how many videos we see of Benny Biceps lifting chains during his winter workouts, he’s never going to match the raw power of Judge. The Yankees phenom may challenge the 40 home run mark annually, just don’t expect his batting average to stay above .300 in the process. Judge is a lot closer to Adam Dunn than Babe Ruth.
Benintendi is more likely to hit for a high average. He won’t deliver as much power but should still settle in the mid-20’s range for home runs while adding plus speed and defense. He’s a five-tool player who should be able to sustain high levels of production in every aspect of his game.
Both of these players have star potential. However, they are different types of players, so determining which one has the brighter future may boil down to what you look for in a star. Judge has a high ceiling with an edge in the power and run production departments, although his alarming strikeout rate combined with the other factors that scream regression suggest a lower floor than Benintendi’s.
Judge is proving he’s a force to be reckoned with, so the safe bet is to consider both of these rookies among the next crop of stars. Yet despite the small sample we’ve seen this season, Benintendi’s age, rapid rise through the system and all-around tools make him my choice in the long term.