Andrew Benintendi Bio
Andrew Sebastian Benintendi is an American professional baseball outfielder who has played for multiple Major League Baseball franchises since making his debut in 2016. He currently competes for the Chicago White Sox after previously suiting up for the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Royals, and New York Yankees. Benintendi won a World Series championship with the Red Sox in 2018 and earned a Gold Glove Award in 2021 while establishing himself as a versatile left fielder known for his defensive acumen and offensive production. His career spans over nine seasons at the sport’s highest level, and he has accumulated 1,188 hits, 128 home runs, and 595 runs batted in through June 2026.
Early Life and Background
Andrew Benintendi was born on July 6, 1994, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended Madeira High School, where he quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional multi-sport athlete. During his senior year playing for the Mustangs baseball team, Benintendi batted .564 with 12 home runs, 57 runs batted in, and 38 stolen bases. His outstanding performance earned him recognition as the ABCA/Rawlings National High School Player of the Year and Ohio Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year. He finished his high school career with an Ohio-record 199 career runs scored.
Beyond baseball, Benintendi excelled in basketball at Madeira High School. He earned 2011–12 Cincinnati Enquirer Division III Co-Player of the Year honors and set school records in career points (1,753), season points (638), career three-pointers (180), and points per game in a season (25.5). Despite his athletic success, Benintendi remained committed to his baseball development and passed on an opportunity to sign with the Cincinnati Reds after they selected him in the 31st round of the 2013 MLB draft.
Path to Baseball
Following his high school graduation, Benintendi enrolled at the University of Arkansas to play college baseball for the Arkansas Razorbacks. As a true freshman in 2014, he appeared in 61 games, hitting .276 with one home run and 27 runs batted in. While his first collegiate season showed promise, his junior year in 2015 transformed him into a top MLB prospect.
During his junior season, Benintendi delivered a dominant performance that led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in batting average (.380), home runs (19), on-base percentage (.489), slugging percentage (.715), and walks (47). He was named SEC Player of the Year and swept the major collegiate awards, winning the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award, the Dick Howser Trophy, and the Golden Spikes Award. These honors established him as one of the most complete players in college baseball and positioned him for a high draft selection.
Andrew Benintendi Career
Boston Red Sox (2016–2020)
The Boston Red Sox selected Benintendi with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the team and received a $3.6 million signing bonus before beginning his professional career with the Lowell Spinners of the Class A-Short Season New York–Penn League. He finished 2015 playing 19 games for the Class A Greenville Drive, where he went 26-for-74 (.351) with an impressive 1.011 OPS. He began 2016 with the Salem Red Sox of the Class A-Advanced Carolina League before earning a promotion to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in May.
The Red Sox promoted Benintendi to the major leagues on August 2, 2016, directly from Double-A, just 421 days after being drafted. He made his MLB debut that same day against the Seattle Mariners as a pinch hitter and recorded his first major league hit the following day off Hisashi Iwakuma. On August 21, 2016, Benintendi hit both his first major league triple and home run against the Detroit Tigers. In his rookie season, he played 34 games and batted .295 with two home runs and 14 RBIs.
Benintendi opened 2017 as Boston’s left fielder and batted second in the order. On July 4 against the Texas Rangers, he delivered a outstanding performance going 5-for-5 with six RBIs, two home runs, and a double in an 11–4 victory. He finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting behind Aaron Judge. For the season, he batted .271 with 20 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases in 151 games played.
Kansas City Royals (2021–2022)
On February 10, 2021, the Red Sox traded Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals as part of a three-team trade. In his first season with Kansas City, he batted .276 with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs in 134 games. His defensive performance stood out as he led all left fielders with 1,116 innings played and a .987 fielding percentage, earning him his first Gold Glove Award. The following season, he began batting .317 and earned selection as the Royals’ lone representative at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game. In 93 games with Kansas City before being traded, he batted .320 with 39 RBIs.
New York Yankees (2022)
The New York Yankees acquired Benintendi from the Royals on July 27, 2022, in exchange for minor league prospects T.J. Sikkema, Chandler Champlain, and Beck Way. His time in New York was cut short by injury when he was hit by a pitch on the right wrist in September 2022. The injury required surgery to repair a broken hamate bone, and he finished the season batting .254 with two home runs in 114 at-bats for the Yankees.
Chicago White Sox (2023–Present)
On January 3, 2023, Benintendi signed a five-year, $75 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. He hit his first home run with his new team on June 16, 2023, against the Seattle Mariners. In his inaugural season with Chicago, he batted .262 with five home runs and 45 RBIs while leading all American League left fielders with four errors. The 2024 season saw Benintendi match his career high of 20 home runs set in 2017, though his batting average (.229) and on-base percentage (.289) represented career lows for a full non-injury-shortened season.
Notable Events and Milestones
During the 2018 postseason with Boston, Benintendi recorded the final outs to secure victories in Games 4 and 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, including a diving effort that prevented a bases-loaded hit in a crucial moment. The Red Sox ultimately won the World Series that year, giving Benintendi his first championship ring. In Game 1 of the 2016 ALDS, he became the youngest Red Sox player to hit a home run in a postseason game.
Andrew Benintendi Career Wins
Throughout his MLB career, Benintendi has accumulated impressive statistics across nine-plus seasons. He has played in 1,188 games and recorded 1,188 hits, 128 home runs, and 595 RBIs with a career batting average of .266 through June 2026. His career highlights include a World Series championship, a Gold Glove Award, an All-Star selection, and multiple collegiate honors.
Boston Red Sox Highlights
Benintendi’s most productive seasons came during his time with the Red Sox. In 2017, he posted 20 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases while finishing second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. His 2018 championship season saw him bat .290 with 16 home runs, 87 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases while playing a pivotal role in the postseason. The 2019 season brought 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 138 games played.
Other Career Performances
With Kansas City in 2021, Benintendi earned his Gold Glove Award while batting .276 with 17 home runs and 73 RBIs. His 2022 All-Star campaign with the Royals included a .320 batting average before the trade to New York. Since joining Chicago, he has provided consistent power production, matching his career high with 20 home runs in 2024 despite a challenging overall season for the team.
| Series | Games | Hits | Home Runs | RBIs | Batting Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career (through 2026) | 1,188 | 1,188 | 128 | 595 | .266 |
Andrew Benintendi Family
Family Background
Benintendi comes from Italian heritage through his paternal grandparents, who immigrated to the United States from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, Italy. His grandparents settled and lived on Lama Court in Gravesend, Brooklyn before eventually raising their family in the Cincinnati area.
Personal Life
Benintendi currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri during the offseason. He grew up as a fan of the Cincinnati Reds, his hometown team. During the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals, he demonstrated his St. Louis connection by supporting the St. Louis Blues during their championship run.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season began with a setback for Benintendi when he suffered a non-displaced fracture in his right hand during spring training on February 27. The injury required an estimated 4–6 week recovery period, but he returned in time for opening day on March 27. He made an immediate impact, hitting a three-run home run in the White Sox’s 8–1 season-opening win over the Los Angeles Angels.
Benintendi reached two significant career milestones during the 2025 season. On March 31, he hit his 100th career home run with a three-run shot off Minnesota Twins starter Chris Paddack. Less than three weeks later on April 18, he recorded his 500th career RBI with a solo home run against the Athletics. However, injuries continued to affect his season as he was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 9 due to a left adductor strain and again on May 7 with a left calf strain.
By late September, the White Sox announced Benintendi would miss the remainder of the regular season due to left Achilles tendinitis. He finished 2025 with a .240 batting average, 20 home runs, 63 RBIs, and a .738 OPS in 116 games. The season represented both resilience through multiple injuries and continued power production despite the physical challenges.