Helena Frye
Will Benson, born on June 16, 1998, is an American baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball (MLB). Benson was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft, despite a commitment to Duke University to play college baseball for the Duke Blue Devils. Instead, Benson chose to sign with the Indians for a $2.5 million signing bonus. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Arizona League Indians, and in 2022, he batted .279 in 89 games for the Guardians. Benson was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2023 and made 128 appearances for them during the 2024 campaign.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | William Buchanan Benson |
| Date of Birth | June 16, 1998 |
| Nationality | American |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Position | Outfielder/First Baseman |
| University | Duke University |
| High School | The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Georgia |
| Height | 6'5" |
| Weight | 225 pounds |
| Bats | Left |
| MLB Draft | 2016, 1st round, 14th overall |
| MLB Teams | Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati Reds |
| 2024 Season Stats | .187/.274/.376, 14 HR, 43 RBI, 16 SB |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Will Benson's baseball career
William Buchanan Benson, born on June 16, 1998, is an American professional baseball outfielder. Benson was set to join the Duke University Blue Devils baseball team in 2016 but instead chose to sign with the Cleveland Indians (now known as the Cleveland Guardians) for a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Benson made his professional baseball debut in 2016 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Indians, where he posted a .209 batting average with six home runs and 27 runs batted in during 44 games. In 2017, he played for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low-A New York–Penn League, where he batted .238 with ten home runs and 36 runs batted in during 56 games. He showed off his power with 10 homers in 202 at-bats but also had a high strikeout rate with 80 strikeouts. Benson worked with hitting coach Pete Lauritson to refine his craft and improve his overall approach at the plate.
In 2018, Benson played with the Lake County Captains of the Single-A South Atlantic League. He continued to develop as a hitter, cutting his strikeout rate and increasing his walk rate. All of his 10 home runs in 2017 had gone to his pull side, but in 2018, he showed the ability to hit to all fields, with his first two home runs with Lake County going to left field.
Benson was assigned to the Akron RubberDucks of the Double-A Northeast to begin the 2021 season. In 2022, he batted .279 in 89 Triple-A games. The Guardians selected Benson's contract on August 1, 2022, and he collected his first career hit, an RBI single off of Drew Hutchison of the Detroit Tigers. He was then traded to the Cincinnati Reds on February 8, 2023. Benson began the 2023 season with the Reds but was demoted to the Louisville Bats after a slow start. He found his stride with the Bats, hitting his first career home run, a walk-off to win the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Benson made 128 appearances for the Reds during the 2024 campaign, slashing .187/.274/.376 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 season.
Will Graves: Gonzaga's Basketball Star and His Journey
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Duke University Blue Devils
The Duke University Blue Devils is the name given to the athletic teams of Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. The Blue Devils have won 17 NCAA National Championships across various sports, including golf, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis.
The men's basketball team is the fourth most successful college basketball program of all time, with five NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship wins, all under head coach Mike Krzyzewski, also known as "Coach K". The team has also been in 16 Final Fours and has had 71 players drafted into the NBA. Duke has also had an Academic All-American on the team for 14 years.
The Blue Devils hold the longest streak of consecutive ACC Championships in several sports, including 14 in women's tennis, 13 in women's golf, five in men's basketball, five in women's basketball, and four in volleyball.
Duke University nearly had a notable basketball player in Will Benson, an American professional baseball outfielder who currently plays for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). Benson was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft and chose to sign with them for a $2.5 million bonus instead of attending Duke University to play for the Blue Devils.
Razorback Basketball: Recent Scores and Performance Review
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Benson's time with the Cleveland Indians
William Buchanan Benson, or Will Benson, was born on June 16, 1998, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was drafted by the Cleveland Indians in the first round (14th overall) of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Draft. Benson, a left-handed batter and thrower, attended Westminster High School in Atlanta, where he excelled in baseball.
Benson had a standout senior year at Westminster, hitting %.454 with 11 doubles, eight home runs, 41 RBIs, and a 1.380 OPS. He led his team to their first state title since 1975 and was named to the 2016 Rawlings-Perfect Game All-American First Team. Benson also represented Team USA in the 2015 USA Baseball Tournament of Stars and the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field.
The Cleveland Indians were impressed by Benson's athleticism and speed, and they selected him as an outfielder, a position they believed would suit his skills. Standing at 6'5" (or 6'6" according to some reports), Benson possessed a rare combination of speed and agility for someone of his height. He was also noted for his elite bat speed and solid arm strength.
After being drafted, Benson signed with the Cleveland Indians for \$2.5 million, turning down a commitment to play baseball at Duke University. He made his professional debut at the age of 18, showcasing his personality during his first press conference with light-hearted comments and Mickey Mouse socks. Benson expressed his desire for the Indians' outfield to become a "No-Fly Zone," indicating his ambition to excel in his position.
During his time with the Cleveland Indians organization, Benson was named to the Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star team and was voted the Best Athlete in the Cleveland Farm System by Baseball America entering the 2019 season. He led the Midwest League in home runs (22) and finished third in walks (82) and ninth in games played (123). Benson also made an impact with the Lake County Captains, leading them in multiple offensive categories, including home runs, RBIs, walks, games played, and runs scored.
US 2002 FIBA Basketball: What Went Wrong?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 2025 season
Will Benson, the American professional baseball outfielder, was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 season. This came after a 2024 campaign where he made 128 appearances for the Cincinnati Reds, slashing .187/.274/.376 with 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.
Benson's baseball journey began when he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. At the time, he was a high school senior with a split focus on baseball and basketball. He chose to sign with the Indians for a $2.5 million signing bonus, forgoing his commitment to Duke University to play college baseball for the Duke Blue Devils.
Benson made his professional debut in 2016 with the Rookie-level Arizona League Indians, and in 2017, he played for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the Low-A New York–Penn League. It was during his time with the Scrappers that he began working with hitting coach Pete Lauritson, who would become a key figure in his development. In 2018, Benson played with the Lake County Captains of the Single-A South Atlantic League, where he continued to showcase his power and work on reducing his strikeout rate.
After several seasons in the minors, Benson was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in February 2023. He began the 2023 season with the Reds but was later demoted to the Louisville Bats, where he hit his first career home run, a walk-off to win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Now, as the 2025 season gets underway, Benson finds himself back with the Bats in Triple-A, working to refine his craft and make his way back to the majors.
Understanding High School Basketball Rankings: Key Factors Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Benson's power and strikeout rate
Will Benson, a former Duke basketball player, has demonstrated both power and a high strikeout rate in his baseball career.
Benson, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound athlete, was a two-sport star in high school, excelling in both baseball and basketball. He was a member of the USA Baseball team that won the 2016 18U World Cup in Japan and also earned second-team all-state honours in basketball. As a professional baseball player, Benson has stood out for his athleticism and power. He produces exceptional bat speed due to his strength and quick hands, resulting in tremendous left-handed raw power. Benson led the New York-Penn League in home runs (10) and ranked second in isolated power (.237). He has also shown power in the Midwest League, with 10 homers in 202 at-bats.
However, Benson's power comes with a high number of strikeouts. He has frequently tinkered with his swing, and his aggressive swing can cause him to get out of the box slowly, leading to below-average run times to first base. In the Arizona League, he struck out 32.6% of the time, and in the New York-Penn League, he struck out 33.9% of the time. In 2024, Benson struck out 40% of the time, posting the worst xBA among qualified hitters. Despite his high strikeout rate, Benson has shown signs of improvement. He cut his strikeout rate and increased his walk rate in his first nine games with Lake County in the Midwest League.
In conclusion, Will Benson possesses immense raw power, but it is often coupled with a high strikeout rate. He has shown the potential for improvement, and his athletic abilities provide optimism that he can make the necessary adjustments to become more consistent.
Jump Shot vs 3-Pointer: Understanding Basketball Scoring
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
William Buchanan Benson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB).
No, Benson was a baseball recruit for Duke University but chose to sign with the Cleveland Indians for a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Benson was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the first round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He made his professional debut in 2016 with the Arizona League Indians and has since played for several other teams, including the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Lake County Captains, Akron RubberDucks, and the Louisville Bats. Benson was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 2023.
In the 2024 campaign with the Cincinnati Reds, Benson made 128 appearances, with a .187/.274/.376 slash line, 14 home runs, 43 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases. In 2022, he batted .279 in 89 games in Triple-A.
