He doesn’t understand Boston fans yet, they bleed Red Sox blood, they love their players and they will settle for nothing less than a title shot in David Ortiz’s a year ago.
Advertisement
Defensively, Benintendi does not project to have a glove to match the likes of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts, which is why he is destined for left field for now. They had considerable discussion over the weekend, weighing pros and cons and seeking input from their top scouts.
Benintendi will become the 55th former Razorback to make it to the majors, and according to a University of Arkansas release, he is the fastest Razorback to make it to the majors from draft day.
“Everybody put a lot of work in to get me where I am”, Kimbrel said upon rejoining the Red Sox for the opener of a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field. That’s because a feller named Yoan Moncada is also in the system – and there’s reason to think he could join Benintendi in the majors. And that’s important at this time.
As far as hitters go, one of the more notable names Dombrowski promoted to the majors from Double-A was Cameron Maybin in 2007, when he was considered one of the top prospects in baseball.
Assigned to High A Salem out of spring training this season, Benintendi got off to a sensational start, hitting.341/.413/.563 with 13 doubles and seven triples, earning a promotion to Double-A Portland after only 34 games.
A natural center fielder, he has recently started seeing playing time in left as preparation for his call up.
Of course, this is about more than talent. He’ll be the 10 former Razorback to appear on an Major League Baseball roster this season following the likes of Brett Eibner and Matt Reynolds, who were the most recent Hogs to make their Major League Baseball debuts.
The Boston Red Sox went from having a winning streak to being in the mist of a four game losing streak, and the Los Angeles Angels their next opponent. Player personnel chief Allard Baird was there a few weeks earlier. And last weekend, Dombrowski and general manager Mike Hazen sought the advice of veteran scouts Paul Fryer and Gary Hughes, who just so happened to be watching Portland play in Binghamton, New York. You think everybody’s more relaxed enough to trade deadline is coming gone yeah I mean I think I think you’re right kind of set gonna settle down and you know dispirited.
Basically, Red Sox fans need to be patient with this kid.
In Portland, Benintendi – a natural center fielder – was transitioned to left field, where he most likely will play in Boston.
“He can swing the bat, use all fields with pop”, said Sea Dogs hitting coach Jon Nunnally said.
So, in discussing whether Benintendi’s time has come, the Red Sox looked at Conforto and Schwarber.
Advertisement
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft certainly has the pedigree, but now he’s added the production to back it up. He played in the MLB Futures Game last month, which preceded the MLB All-Star Game in San Diego.
