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Boston Red Sox 2017: Star Potential of Andrew Benintendi Rising

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Sep 23, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (40) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi is baseball’s top prospect and is showing every sign of living up to the hype.

Boston Red Sox fans got a glimpse of the type of player Andrew Benintendi can and will be when he was called up late in the season.  The 22-year-old outfielder held his own and was one of the few players who produced in the playoffs.  The scary thing about it is he is still growing physically, mentally and as a professional baseball player.

The most impressive part about Benintendi is how confident and content he appears to be on the big stage.  That aspect of his game showed in the playoff serious against the Cleveland Indians.  He posted a .333 batting average along with a home run and 2 RBI in his first postseason experience.  Impressive for a player who spent much of the season tearing things up in Double-A.

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Overall he hit .295 with 2 homers and 14 RBI.  Along with stellar defense in the outfield, Andrew Benintendi has the organization, teammates and fans excited for what he could do in a full season.  Part of that excitement stems from his physical growth over the offseason.  Benintendi has focused on adding bulk to his body and is seen below showing how intense he has working out.  He has gained 15 to 20 pounds of muscle.

"“It’s a long season,” Benintendi said via ESPN.  “Obviously staying healthy is the main thing.  By adding some weight and staying mobile and flexible, overall that’ll help in the long run.”"

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The 2015 first-round draft pick will enter this season with some pressure on him.  Obviously, from how he performed at the end of last season, projections have him contending for Rookie of the Year.  But, before we all get too excited, he will have some struggles in his first full season once pitchers and opposing teams figure him out.

2017 Projections

Bill James, who serves as a senior advisor in the Red Sox baseball operations projects Andrew Benintendi will post a batting average of .290 with 12 home runs and 73 RBI.  He also projects a slugging percentage of .443.

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While I agree with the batting average (if not slightly higher), I can see that home run total a bit higher.  To cut James some slack, he made his projections before Benintendi added all his muscle.  I could see at least 25 home runs and a slightly lower RBI total.  That will only be because he’ll probably end up in the 1 or 3 spot in the lineup.

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