Andrew Benintendi

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• Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Priortizing average over power

  15D ago • By RotoWire Staff

  Benintendi plans to focus on batting average over power now that he's Boston's leadoff hitter, Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports. As baseball continues to evolve, the notion of what a leadoff hitter should be evolves along with it. No longer are speed and on-base percentage the dominant skills for the position. More teams are going with guys that drive the ball and hit double-digit home runs, and Benintendi can do that. He slugged .598 out the leadoff spot in 2018 when Mookie Betts was sidelined by an injury. While he's popped 36 home runs over the past two seasons and could reach double-digits again in 2019, Benintendi plans to focus on making contact instead of trying to leave the yard. "I think (batting average) is pretty important, especially with Mookie [Betts] and J.D. [Martinez] behind you," he said. "I think for me, I just want to hit over .300. That's my number and then everything else will fall into place." He should see a ton of good pitches to hit, batting in front of Betts, so achieving a .300 batting average is possible.

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• Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi: New leadoff man in 2019

  12/11/2018 • By RotoWire Staff

  Manager Alex Cora said Benintendi will bat leadoff in 2019, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports. Benintendi primarily hit second in 2018, but he'll swap places in the order with Mookie Betts next season as the Red Sox look to maximize Betts' value. The 24-year-old hit atop the order 21 times last season -- primarily when Betts was unavailable -- slashing .322/.381/.598 with five homers and three stolen bases in those contests. While his move to the leadoff spot will likely cut into his RBI total in 2019, he should benefit from an uptick in runs with Betts and J.D. Martinez both hitting behind him.

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• Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Out of Game 3 lineup

  10/26/2018 • By RotoWire Staff

  Benintendi is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the World Series against the Dodgers on Friday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. Manager Alex Cora didn't want to lose J.D. Martinez's bat in Dodger Stadium, so Benintendi will take a seat while Martinez draws the start in right field. Look for Benintendi to join Friday's game as a defensive replacement for Martinez if the Red Sox hold a lead going into the final few innings.

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• Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Not in Sunday's lineup

  09/30/2018 • By RotoWire Staff

  Benintendi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees, Evan Drellich of NBC Sports Boston reports. Benintendi started six of the last seven games and is 10-for-27 with six RBI in his last 31 plate appearances, but he'll nonetheless head to the bench for the regular-season finale. Brock Holt will start in left field and bat second for Boston. Benintendi has a .290/.366/.465 slash line with 16 home runs and 21 stolen bases in 579 at-bats this season, although he could still come off the bench Sunday.

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• Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi: Hits bench for Game 2 of twin bill

  09/26/2018 • By RotoWire Staff

  Benintendi is not in the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Orioles, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. Benintendi will head to the bench for the second half of Wednesday's twin bill after going 3-for-6 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored in Game 1 as the Red Sox cruised to a 19-3 victory. Sam Travis is starting in left field and hitting eighth in his stead.

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