16 Andrew Benintendi LF

Updating a previous report, Benintendi will lead off and man left field in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Boston's initial lineup called for Benintendi to play right field, a position he's never played at any point during his four seasons in the majors. The Red Sox ultimately called an audible and have decided to use Benintendi in his more natural position in left for what will be his first game action in the field since he picked up a minor quadriceps injury last week. Thursday's lineup looks to be entirely made up of regulars, so at this point, Benintendi seems to be interim manager Ron Roenicke's top choice to replace the departed Mookie Betts as Boston's leadoff man.

Benintendi (quad) will man right field and hit leadoff in Thursday's spring game against the Astros, according to Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe.

Benintendi's injury has limited him to just one appearance as the DH since Feb. 27, but he is set to both hit and play the field Thursday, so it seems he has put the soreness behind him. It's notable that he will line up in right field, as he has not made a start in that spot in a big-league game.

Interim manager Ron Roenicke suggested that Benintendi (quadriceps) might be cleared to play the outfield in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

After experiencing minor quad tightness just under a week ago, Benintendi returned from a three-game absence to serve as Boston's designated hitter Tuesday against the Yankees. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the 9-1 loss, but more importantly, he didn't experience any setbacks with the quad. Benintendi was scheduled to do outfield drills Wednesday, so if he responds well to that activity, expect him to have a defensive role versus Houston.

Benintendi (quadriceps) will return to the lineup as a designated hitter Tuesday against the Yankees, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

Benintendi has been battling a minor quad issue over the last few days, but the Red Sox don't appear overly concerned. He'll still have plenty of time to get into fielding shape by Opening Day.

Benintendi is dealing with quadriceps tightness but could return to game action Tuesday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old has been held out since the issue cropped up Thursday, but his expected quick return to the lineup indicates it's a minor injury. Benintendi is expected to begin the season working as Boston's leadoff man after the departure of Mookie Betts.

Benintendi batted leadoff and went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's spring game against the Twins.

Benintendi, who launched his solo home run on the second pitch of the game, is expected to be Boston's primary leadoff hitter in 2020, replacing the departed Mookie Betts. He served in that role to start the 2019 season, going 5-for-42 when leading off games, but 2020 is a different year. Thus far, Benintendi has hit safely in the two games in which he's led off a game.

Benintendi was mentioned alongside new teammate Alex Verdugo (oblique) by interim manager Ron Roenicke as a possible leadoff man following the trade of Mookie Betts to the Dodgers, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Benintendi's career 109 wRC+ is nearly identical to Verdugo's 107 mark, though he managed a career-worst 100 wRC+ last season and may need to show signs of a bounceback if he's to win the competition. Even with Betts now in Los Angeles, the top of the Red Sox's order remains strong, and whoever becomes the leadoff hitter will get to bat in front of Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez.

Benintendi and the Red Sox avoided arbitration by agreeing to a two-year, $10 million deal Saturday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Benintendi won't reach free agency until 2023, so this deal doesn't extend his time in Boston. Instead, it simply means the two sides won't have to go through the arduous arbitration process either this year or the next. Benintendi will be looking to bounce back from a mediocre 2019 campaign which saw him hit .266/.343/.431 with 13 homers and 10 steals.

Red Sox hitting coach Tim Hyers spent time with Benintendi during the offseason and said the outfielder is in "really good shape," Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald reports.

Hyers met with a reportedly slimmer Benintendi, who arrived at 2019 spring training noticeably bulked up following a breakout 2018. The outfielder, however, regressed with the added weight, dropping in WAR (4.4 to 2.0) and OPS (.830 to .774). Benintendi's strikeout rate jumped seven percentage points, as he whiffed 34 percent more often than he did in 2018. "We had a good workout and I think there's some really good things," Hyers said. "He's going to be ready for this year. It was nice to see. He had a really good attitude as far as energetic, ready to go." The 25-year-old is still under team control for three more seasons, and for the first time he is arbitration eligible. That matter will be settled by a third party sometime in early February.

Benintendi is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Baltimore, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Benintendi finishes the season on the bench for the third straight contest, which could be related to the thumb issue he battled earlier in the week. Gorkys Hernandez will start in left field in the season finale.

Benintendi is not in Saturday's lineup against the Orioles.

He was pulled after two at-bats in Thursday's game and did not start Friday, so it seems likely that Benintendi is a little banged up. He dealt with a thumb injury earlier in the week. Sam Travis is starting in left field and hitting fifth.

Benintendi is not in the lineup Friday against the Orioles.

Benintendi battled a thumb injury earlier in the week, though it's not clear if his absence is injury-related or if the Red Sox simply want to give their backups some at-bats in the final few games of a lost season. Sam Travis will start in left field Friday.

Benintendi went 2-for-5 with two runs scored in Tuesday's 12-10 win over Texas.

Benintendi returned to the starting lineup after being held out since injuring his thumb last Friday. He did make appearances in a couple of games over the weekend as a defensive replacement and is now ready to swing a bat.

Benintendi (thumb) is starting in left field and hitting sixth Tuesday against the Rangers, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Benintendi is good to go after missing a trio of games with a thumb contusion. Through 18 appearances this month, the outfielder is slashing just .132/.242/.226 with one home run and one stolen base.

Benintendi (thumb) is not in the lineup Monday against the Rays, Steve Hewitt of the Boston Herald reports.

Benintendi suffered a thumb contusion Friday and hasn't returned to the starting lineup since, though he was able to enter Sunday's game as a late-inning defensive replacement, suggesting he won't be shut down due to the injury. Gorkys Hernandez is starting in left field and hitting seventh in this one.

Benintendi appeared as a late-inning defensive replacement Sunday in the Red Sox's 7-4 win over the Rays.

Boston's decision to bring Benintendi off the bench even though the team was eliminated from the playoffs earlier in the weekend implies that he won't be shut down on account of the thumb contusion. That being said, until Benintendi is able to take batting practice without discomfort, he likely won't be cleared to re-enter the lineup. Benintendi has been out of the lineup the past two days due to the injury.

Benintendi (thumb) is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.

Benintendi exited Friday's contest with a left thumb contusion and is now out of the lineup for the second consecutive day. Though the team hasn't ruled him out to close the season, a cautious approach should be anticipated. Sam Travis will start in left field and bat sixth in his place.

Benintendi (thumb) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

A left thumb contusion forced Benintendi from Friday's game, and he will miss at least one start. Brock Holt gets the call in left field. Benintendi's said to be day-to-day, per Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe, so a return Sunday seems like a possibility.

Benintendi left Friday's game against the Rays with a bruised left thumb, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

Benintendi left the matchup after his first at-bat, and the club has since indicated why. He'll be considered day-to-day until further notice.

Benintendi is not in Saturday's lineup in Philadelphia, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

With the designated hitter unavailable in a National League park, J.D. Martinez gets the start in left field, sending Benintendi to the bench. He is hitting .091 with one home run and one steal in 10 games this month.