It’s still very early in the career of the 23-year old outfielder but the early returns suggest that Andrew Benintendi was a fantastic selection with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
While he was overshadowed by Aaron Judge last year, there’s no shame in finishing as the runner-up to the Yankees slugger in the Rookie of the Year race. Benintendi had a promising rookie year, hitting .271 with a .776 OPS. He was one of only nine major league players to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases last season.
While some young players struggle through a Sophmore slump, Benny has taken a leap in his second full season. He enters the day hitting .296 and ranks 9th in the American League with a .918 OPS. He’s on pace to join the 20/20 club again with 9 homers and 9 steals already, giving him a shot at a rare 30/30 season.
Perhaps Benintendi will climb this list as he continues to pile up career accomplishments but it’s far too soon for that. He earns a top-five spot on this list based on his early success and vast potential but that’s as high as he goes for now.