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Boston Red Sox: Can Benintendi fill David Ortiz’s shoes?

By Tommy Butler

May 5, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) hits a solo home run in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2017; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) hits a solo home run in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Red Sox Left Fielder Andrew Benintendi is widely regarded as the No.1 Prospect in all of MLB.  Will he fill the hole left by Big Papi’s retirement?

The Boston Red Sox quiet start is commonly thought to be a side effect of the void left by David Ortiz’s retirement last year.  Ortiz had been a staple in Sox lineups, being one of the loudest bats in Boston for 14 years.

The Red Sox started the season having trouble getting their bats going, sitting near the bottom of the league in runs and home runs all year so far.

It seems that the Boston bats are starting to heat up, especially the bat of Andrew Benintendi.

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In their final game against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday the team hit five home runs and put 17 on the board.  Benintendi knocked one out while Sandy Leon hit two of his own.  It took the Boston Red Sox 11 games to hit their first five home runs.

In the last two games combined the Sox have put up 28 runs, the most they have all season by far.  Benintendi has been a big contributed in the blow outs.

Big Beni the new Big Papi?

Yes the nickname needs work and it’s way to early to say the Sox have moved on from the best DH in history.  Even so, The 22 year old outfielder is the real deal and could even be the face of the Franciscan for years to come.

Benintendi has spent nearly all season leading the Red Sox in a wide variety of offensive categories.  At the moment he leads the team in RBIs with 20 and hits with 39.  He’s tied with Hanley Ramirez for the lead in home runs with five each.

Though Big Papi is a much larger man than Benintendi and the sophomore wouldn’t be able to literally fill his shoes he has the athletic ability to do so on the field.

Papi has always been known as a power guy and not much else.  He nearly averaged 30 HRs a year and won the Silver Slugger award seven times.If it wasn’t out of the park however was basically a liability on the base paths. I n 20 years in baseball he only ever managed 17 stolen bases.

Super Benintendo (no? Alright I’ll stop.) on the other hand has the speed and the range as an outfielder to stretch for that extra base or risk running home in a clutch situation.

Growing into a 30 HR guy

He may not be a 30 HR a year guy yet but he certainly has the power to do so.

He’s worked on getting there by bulking up this offseason.  He’s hit five dingers so far, putting him on track to hit nearly 27 this season.

Defensively Ortiz only ever played a few years at first and never had great range.  Benintendi will solidify the left field problems the Boston Red Sox have been having for many years to come.

Ortiz is also known as one of the best clutch hitters in baseball history.  Benintendi hasn’t been put in those types of situations yet.  We’ll just have to see.

It’s too early in Benintendi’s career to say for sure but he’s well on track to being a fantastic player.

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I’m sure it’s safe to say that nobody will ever replace Big Papi in the hearts of Sox fans, but Benintendi has a chance to sit alongside him.

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