2. Andrew Benintendi
Picking up Andrew Benintendi with the seventh pick in the 2015 draft seems like one of the smartest moves a team could make in the draft. With one of the most beautiful swings in the game, Andrew has become a vital part of this Red Sox side. At only 24-years-old, he’s gained more major league experience than plenty of vets have.
After a short stint in Boston, in the 2016 season, Benintendi showed he was the real deal and would be a major leaguer for a long time. He solidified this testament by putting together a tremendous first full season in 2017.
He ultimately finished second in the Rookie of the Year race – a race which he would’ve won in any year that the only competition was a guy by the name of Aaron Judge. Benny developed a solid .352 OBP in 2017 and was one of the integral bats as he produced 90 RBI for his side – helping the Sox win their second successive AL East title.
Last season, he improved in basically every category – showing the growth of his game, and becoming an elite talent. At just 23, Benintendi was one of the Red Sox’s key players in a team full of stars.
The moment he’ll be remembered for in the 2018 campaign, which ended with a championship, was that catch in Houston – perhaps, the greatest catch in franchise history. However, his ability to do just about anything was a huge factor in the entirety of that record-breaking season.
This season, there have been some tough moments, as he began 2019 leading off – not getting going as well as he would’ve liked. Moving down a few spots will help get his rhythm back and hopefully we’ll see him continue to build on what we’ve already seen to be terrific talent.