Andrew Benintendi

Andrew Benintendi
Benintendi receiving the Dick Howser Trophy
Boston Red Sox
Outfielder
Born: July 6, 1994 Madeira, Ohio
Bats: Left Throws: Left
Career highlights and awards
College SEC Player of the Year (2015) Dick Howser Trophy (2015) Baseball America College Player of the Year (2015) Golden Spikes Award (2015)

Andrew S. Benintendi (born July 6, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Boston Red Sox organization. He played college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas. The Red Sox selected Benintendi in the first round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.

Career

Benintendi attended Madeira High School in Madeira, Ohio. As a senior, he batted .564 with 12 home runs, 57 runs batted in (RBIs) and 38 stolen bases for the school's baseball team, and was the ABCA/Rawlings National High School Player of the Year and Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.^[1] He finished his career with an Ohio record 199 career runs scored.^[2][3] Benintendi was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 31st round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft,^[4] but he did not sign with the Reds.

Benintendi enrolled at the University of Arkansas to play college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. As a true freshman at Arkansas, Benintendi played in 61 games, with 60 starts. He hit .276/.368/.333 with one home run and 27 RBIs.^[5][6][7]

In 2015, Benintendi led the Southeastern Conference in batting average (.380), home runs (19), on-base percentage (.489), slugging (.715) and walks (47). He was named the SEC Player of the Year.^[8] Benintendi was considered one of the top prospects for the 2015 Major League Baseball draft and the Boston Red Sox selected him with the seventh overall selection. He also won the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award,^[9] the Dick Howser Trophy,^[10] and the Golden Spikes Award.^[11]

Benintendi was drafted by the Boston Red Sox with the seventh overall selection in the 2015 Major League Baseball draft.^[12] He signed with the Red Sox, receiving a $3.6 million signing bonus.^[13] Benintendi made his professional debut with the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League.^[14]

References

1. "Arkansas Baseball Signee Named Player Of The Year". Arkansas News. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
2. "30 Years of Honoring The Future: Former POY Andrew Benintendi on a major power surge". USA Today High School Sports. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
3. "Madeira grad Benintendi’s blazing, leads NCAA in HRs". Cincinnati.com. April 18, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
4. Reds select Madeira's Andrew Benintendi in MLB draft
5. Nate Allen, [e-mail] (May 5, 2015). "Allen: Weights, change of stance pay off for Benintendi". The Baxter Bulletin. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
6. "Beefed-up Benintendi gives Hogs more bang". NWADG.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
7. "Hot Springs Sentinel Record – Benintendi blasting off for Arkansas". hotsr.com. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
8. "SEC Baseball Awards" (Press release). Southeastern Conference. May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
9. Dyer, Mike (June 11, 2015). "Andrew Benintendi named Baseball America National Player of the Year". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
10. Red Sox pick Benintendi wins Howser Trophy, MLB.com. Published June 12, 2015. Retrieved June 12, 2015.
11. Jones, Matt (June 23, 2015). "Benintendi wins Golden Spikes Award". Arkansas Online. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
12. "Red Sox draft Arkansas OF Andrew Benintendi seventh overall – The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
13. Willis, David (August 12, 2015). "Red Sox first round pick Benintendi showing why he dominated college baseball world". Gloucester Daily Times. Retrieved August 14, 2015.
14. "Boston Red Sox prospects: Andrew Benintendi impressing at Class A Short-Season Lowell". masslive.com. Retrieved August 14, 2015.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Arkansas Razorbacks bio