Boston Red Sox: Andrew Benintendi has improved in the leadoff spot

In Boston Red Sox spring training, Andrew Benintendi has looked good when he is in the lineup. Benintendi is expected to make strides at the plate in 2020.

After a tumultuous 2019 season which saw Andrew Benintendi go from being the leadoff hitter to practically an afterthought in the Boston Red Sox lineup, the outfielder is looking to have that breakout campaign that many were expecting him to have had already. If spring training is anything to go by, it gives fans hope that this may finally be Benintendi’s year.

Benintendi has been granted another chance in the leadoff spot he’s taken advantage of it. The sample size is admittedly small, but Benintendi’s .286/.348/.476 line and OPS of .824 is nothing to sneeze at.

It’s only spring training, but let’s be honest: We’d be freaking out if Benintendi was struggling, so why not be encouraged that he isn’t? His resurgence could not only mean big things for the Red Sox this year, but perhaps in years to come as well. There’s certainly no need to be doing back-flips when meaningful games have not been played, but after an exhausting offseason it’s just nice to get our hopes up about something.

If there was ever a chance for Benintendi to prove that he’s more than just a decent bat and a good glove in left field, then this is it. No one is really expecting the Red Sox to make a lot of noise this season. Benintendi, along with his teammates, are in a situation where they face the least amount of pressure to succeed that they have in years. It’s a perfect opportunity for Benintendi to surprise people. If not this season, then when?

Ever since his promising rookie season in 2017, Red Sox fans and media have been waiting for Benintendi to establish himself as an All-Star. That has yet to happen, but at just 25-years-old entering his fourth season in the majors he can still make that leap.

Now fully out of the shadow of Mookie Betts, even more eyes will be set on Benintendi. Without Betts, the team will need production from Benintendi at the leadoff spot in order for the lineup to be anywhere close to the performance it displayed last year. If he is able to pick up some of the slack leftover from Mookie’s departure, it’s likely that the offense will still put up a good amount of runs.

Unfortunately, it might take longer than we expected to truly determine if Benintendi is primed for a career-year due to Major League Baseball delaying opening day because of the coronavirus pandemic. When Benintendi and the Red Sox do take the field again, the hope will be that he rises to stardom.