2015 1st Round Pick, Andrew Benintendi, CF, Arkansas

ALiveH

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#1 GCL (Espinoza) and now #1 NYPL is pretty awesome.  Hoping they get the #1 SAL (Moncada / Devers) and #1 East (Margot) as well.
 

doc

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I have to pipe in that he seems like a real nice kid.  The game I saw him at my son played sax at the 7th inning stretch  with a group from the music school he takes lessons at.  The kids got to meet the team and Benintendi was one of the players that spent some time with the kids and since my son is the only one that I know plays baseball he spent a while talking baseball with my son, which I think is very cool.
 

smastroyin

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But the Sox didn't have the opportunity to draft Frazier, and if they did I would still rather him than Trey Ball anyway?

And having either of those guys doesn't actually preclude the Red Sox drafting Benintendi as well?
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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It wasn't a "missed opportunity" (at least for me) post, so much as a riff on the players people were talking about the Sox being interested in just before that draft. There's not much point in crying over the spilled milk of missed draft opportunities, IMO. I'd certainly take Meadows or Frazier (or a bunch of other guys) over Ball at this point, but I'm guessing that's a near universal sentiment around here.
 

grimshaw

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He has tripled 5 times, doubled 4 times, and struck out and walked 3 times each. Love those SSS.
My crush has intensified. I don't think I could look him in the eye if he walked passed me in the hallway on the way to chem lab.
 

IdiotKicker

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So my attention to baseball has been almost nil this year, but I finally got around to looking at SoxProspects for the first time since the season started. Benintendi could be the real deal. 14 out of 23 hits this season for XBs, only 4 Ks in 69ABs, ISO of .290 despite not having a home run yet this year. That’s freakish. I'll typically look for situations where XBH > K as a strong positive sign, but a 3.5:1 ratio is pretty much unheard of. To compare to Betts at A and A+ at age 20, he had 55XBH and 57 Ks over around 480 ABs. SSS and all, but it's pretty much checking every box right now. Give him another 6 weeks at this level and get him up to Portland.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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So my attention to baseball has been almost nil this year, but I finally got around to looking at SoxProspects for the first time since the season started. Benintendi could be the real deal. 14 out of 23 hits this season for XBs, only 4 Ks in 69ABs, ISO of .290 despite not having a home run yet this year. That’s freakish. I'll typically look for situations where XBH > K as a strong positive sign, but a 3.5:1 ratio is pretty much unheard of. To compare to Betts at A and A+ at age 20, he had 55XBH and 57 Ks over around 480 ABs. SSS and all, but it's pretty much checking every box right now. Give him another 6 weeks at this level and get him up to Portland.
This was linked earlier in the thread, but in case you missed it, here's Cuz's take from the dot com last year.

http://sonsofsamhorn.com/baseball/teams/al-east/boston-red-sox/the-boston-red-sox-have-signed-andrew-benintendi/
 
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AlNipper49

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Benintendi is as much of a lock as we have had in this system in quite some time. Even players like Betts have come up with incredible upside but have brought some risk. I can't remember someone who is such a lock for a (low water mark) .290 with some pop while playing great defense in ...who knows
 

nighthob

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I fully expect him to be patrolling an OF spot in Fenway this year, given the mercurial nature of JBJ and then whatever the hell is going on in LF. Both he and Moncada are just to good to keep down for long.
 

Snodgrass'Muff

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Moncada still has quite a bit of developing to do. I think Benintendi has a chance to be the starting left fielder down the stretch, but is more likely to finish the year in Pawtucket, where as Moncada is more likely to finish in Portland with a slight chance to finish in Pawtucket.

If nothing else, Moncada needs to develop defensively and that power stroke hasn't shown up in games yet. Rushing him to the majors could stunt that growth a bit.
 

Spelunker

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A tidbit from Speier's email today that I found pretty damn impressive:

MINOR DETAILS: Andrew Benintendi’s 15-game hitting streak seemed all but lost when he walked on four pitches in the eighth inning, but a 10-run explosion by his Salem Red Sox teammates permitted him one more plate appearance that inning, and he made the most of it by blasting his first homer of the year to finish 1-for-4. He did, however, swing and miss for the first time since April 16 – a remarkable accomplishment that has helped him limit his strikeout total to just five in 19 games this year.
 

grimshaw

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I'm interested in seeing if DD is more aggressive when it comes to promotions with Benintendi. You'd have to think something happens before the draft.

I can't think of a player starting in High A and ending up in Boston in the same year. I'm sure it's probably happened - but not with anyone on this roster.

Wondering what the hold up is in keeping him there aside from maybe waiting until the weather warms up in Portland.
 
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Papelbon's Poutine

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What does the draft have to do with it?

You leave a guy like him where he is until he's seen the same teams 2-3 times and hopefully the same pitchers a couple times. See if he adjusts to the adjustments and see if he it's legit or he had good matchups. Small sample sizes apply in minor league ball as well as major and there's no reason to rush him.
 

grimshaw

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What does the draft have to do with it?
I just meant that when rosters shuffle around after the draft in June - guys get promoted. it's when the majority of promotions happen. I'm hoping it doesn't take that long and don't think it will.

Did some research: Cla Meredith is the only Red Sox to move 3+ levels in a season since at least 1980. Craig Hansen outright skipped some levels from rookie ball to Boston in the year he was drafted. Benintendi would be the first positional guy if he somehow makes it.
 
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cournoyer

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I just meant that when rosters shuffle around after the draft in June - guys get promoted. it's when the majority of promotions happen. I'm hoping it doesn't take that long and don't think it will.

Did some research: Cla Meredith is the only Red Sox to move 3+ levels in a season since at least 1980. Craig Hansen outright skipped some levels from rookie ball to Boston in the year he was drafted. Benintendi would be the first positional guy if he somehow makes it.
Huh, I didn't realize that... For the love of God give him some more at bats!
 

Jed Zeppelin

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What does the draft have to do with it?

You leave a guy like him where he is until he's seen the same teams 2-3 times and hopefully the same pitchers a couple times. See if he adjusts to the adjustments and see if he it's legit or he had good matchups. Small sample sizes apply in minor league ball as well as major and there's no reason to rush him.
Can you really trust High-A pitchers to make the kind of adjustments that would affect an advanced player like Benintendi?
 

grimshaw

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Can you really trust High-A pitchers to make the kind of adjustments that would affect an advanced player like Benintendi?
Exactly. He's not even walking because everything probably looks so juicy. From all accounts he is a very disciplined hitter too. There is not much challenge until they hit the top prospect AA league facing equally advanced, polished pitchers.
 

smastroyin

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Benintendi could probably be promoted today, but it's a bit early to create a spot for him, I think. Largely because of the Castillo demotion, there has been a trickle effect.

If Castillo gets moved or promoted back to the majors, I could see an immediate callup for Brentz to Pawtucket and Benintendi to Portland. As it stands, they probably want to keep everyone getting PAs. Yes, I know the Pawtucket OF is veteran minor leaguers and yes I know the Portland OF are non-prospects that could be cut with almost no consequence. But, injuries and other unpredictability can cause there to be a consequence.
 

amfox1

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Benintendi could probably be promoted today, but it's a bit early to create a spot for him, I think. Largely because of the Castillo demotion, there has been a trickle effect.

If Castillo gets moved or promoted back to the majors, I could see an immediate callup for Brentz to Pawtucket and Benintendi to Portland. As it stands, they probably want to keep everyone getting PAs. Yes, I know the Pawtucket OF is veteran minor leaguers and yes I know the Portland OF are non-prospects that could be cut with almost no consequence. But, injuries and other unpredictability can cause there to be a consequence.
I don't think there is anything or anyone holding up a promotion for Benintendi. I think Benintendi will be promoted in the next week or two and, if there is a need later in the year, Benintendi could follow the Conforto model of going to the majors straight from double-A.
 

RedOctober3829

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From Alex Speier's email newsletter I got today:

Though a second straight rainout denied Andrew Benintendi any additional #benifeats, he was named the Player of the Week in the Carolina League f when he hit .450/.542/.700 with four walks, two strikeouts, two steals, and 11 RBI in six games. Given that there’s a very real chance that his promotion to Double A Portland could occur this month – perhaps even as soon as next week – the honor may well be his last in High A.
 

CantKeepmedown

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Portland is home today, tomorrow and Wednesday. Then they are on the road till the 27th. Might have to grab a ticket tomorrow or Wednesday. Anxious to see this kid play.
 

DJnVa

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Slow start--2 for 11 with 5 Ks. Team is off today, probably nice timing--let the kid catch his breath.
 

DJnVa

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Still struggling a bit in AA, at least numbers-wise--now 2 for 19, with 6 Ks and 1 BB. Small sample size, but he's hitting groundballs at twice his usual rate. That should fall back in line soon enough.
 

smastroyin

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He was scuffling before the callup as well - 1 for his last 19 in Salem.
 

DJnVa

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Benintendi is up to .245/.293/.383 in AA, including 8 for his last 20, with 2 HRs and is hitting .289/.357/.553 in his last 10.
 

DJnVa

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Continuing his hot hitting: He has 2+ hits in 6 of last 9 games, with 3 HRs and is hitting .350/.409/.675 over his last 10.
 

AlNipper49

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I don't think that it works like that in an optimal world. An evolved talent isn't going to find much challenge in the lower minors. AA and AAA will atleast start challenging him. There is zero reason to rush him