BOSTON -- The Red Sox snagged perhaps the nation's best college hitter in Andrew Benintendi with the seventh pick in the Draft on Thursday night.
As a draft-eligible sophomore out of Arkansas, Benintendi had a breakout season, hitting .380 while leading Division 1 with 19 homers. The left-handed hitter stole 23 bases and was the SEC Player of the Year. He is also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's best collegiate baseball player.
The Red Sox monitored the leap closely and pounced.
"Obviously he took a big jump this year," said Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington.