If you didn’t already know, Andrew Benintendi is a big deal. In an injury-marred freshman campaign with the University of Arkansas, he hit just one home run in 61 games for the Razorbacks. That season was the last time he’s struggled at any level in baseball.
Benintendi took home the Baseball America College Player of the Year Award, Dick Howser Trophy and the Golden Spikes Award after leading the Southeastern Conference in average (.380), home runs (19), on-base percentage (.489) and slugging (.715) in 2015. After winning every college-player-of-the-year award possible, the Red Sox had him ranked second on their draft board and were undoubtedly elated when he slipped to them at 7th overall.