Boston Red Sox Minors: 2019 will be the year of Garrett Benge

The Boston Red Sox have plenty of prospects that the following season could be good too. Just exactly who will make it their year in 2019 though?

Garrett Benge spent time at two different positions last season – first and third base. Sadly for him, those are the two positions that the Boston Red Sox are most loaded at when it comes to prospects. Due to that, he’s flown under the radar despite superb numbers in 2018.

Benge spent last season in both Short-A and Full-A. In 41 games between the two, he posted an impressive .333/.450/.461 slash line with 23 runs scored and 19 RBI. The left-handed hitter added 10 doubles and one triple, as well as two home runs in that time.

Of course, the most impressive stat was his walks. Benge walked more times (30) than he struck out (25). That type of eye/patience will only serve to benefit him moving forward.

Speaking of moving forward, 2019 is shaping up to be a big year for Benge.

One of the weirding things that will work out for him is other prospects. Players like Michael Chavis and Bobby Dalbec will force the Red Sox hand somewhere. Whether it’s with calling them up, or someone being traded to create less of a logjam at the positions.

This will do two big things for Benge.

First, it will give him more of a spotlight. With fewer prospects in the Red Sox minors at first and third, more eyes will be on him.

More from Red Sox Prospects

• Predicting top Red Sox outfield prospect Ceddanne Rafaela’s timeline to the majors
• Predicting Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer’s timeline to the majors
• Red Sox risk repeating rookie mistake with Eric Hosmer release
• Red Sox invited group of players you’ve probably never heard of to Spring Training
• Jeter Downs’ official departure will continue to haunt Red Sox

Second, it will more-than-likely lead to a promotion for Benge. The smart money would be for him to start the year at Full-A. There’s a very good chance he plays well enough to get promoted to Advanced-A during the season. He might move even further up the ladder due to a Chavis/Dalbec call-up or trade though.

Benge is often overlooked when it comes to prospects due to his lack of power at the corner infield spots. He’s not a speedster that makes up for it either. However, he plays solid defense at both spots and has the potential to be a good contact hitter with great gap power.

No, he probably won’t ever be a 30-plus home run guy. 30-plus doubles and 10-plus home runs is doable though. Add in the fact that he has a great eye and could be an OBP-best and that’s an extremely valuable prospect.

Given more of a spotlight in the Boston Red Sox minors this year, Benge should turn a lot of fans into believers. Due to that, 2019 could be the year of Garrett Benge.