As the American League wild card race gets closer by the day, we’ll take a look at some other news and notes from the Junior Circuit.
- Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi left last night’s game against the Padres in the sixth inning with left side tightness, as relayed by Chris Cotillo of Mass Live. For now, he remains day-to-day, with manager Alex Cora telling Cotillo he’ll be evaluated on Monday’s off day. Benintendi won’t be available today, per Cora, although he was due for a maintenance day regardless, the skipper noted. The University of Arkansas product hasn’t quite emerged as the superstar many envisioned when he was one of baseball’s top prospects, but he’s no doubt a valuable and important piece of Boston’s outfield mix, boasting a solid .283/.357/.462 slash line (112 wRC+). The Sox have won seven of their last ten games, but as Rob Bradford of WEEI points out, they haven’t made up much ground in their pursuit of a Wild Card spot in recent weeks. Fangraphs gives the defending champions just a 6.4% shot of getting to the play-in game, and any long-term absence for Benintendi would only deplete those odds further. Fortunately, the club is optimistic at this point he’ll return Tuesday for the start of a series against the Rockies, per Cotillo.
- Willie Calhoun is beginning to look like a core piece for the future, opines Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Following a slow start to his MLB career, Calhoun has mashed since this year’s All-Star break, and his .292/.333/.579 line on the season is awfully impressive, even considering Globe Life Park’s hitter-friendly tendencies (128 wRC+). Calhoun tells Grant he made a swing adjustment this offseason hoping to elevate the ball and take advantage of his cozy home environment. He’s done exactly that, pushing his average launch angle from 11.6° in 2018 to 18.4° this season. Calhoun’s not without question marks- he’s not well-regarded defensively anywhere on the diamond and his batted ball metrics don’t quite line up with his stellar results- but he’s nonetheless worked his way into the organization’s good graces, as manager Chris Woodward raved to Grant about the slugger’s improved focus and plate approach.
- The Rays are getting some help on the injury front, rounds up Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. In addition to the returns of Joey Wendle and Avisaíl García, the club is seeing some progress on the pitching side. Ace Blake Snell, out since July 22 with a left elbow injury, is on track to throw a bullpen session this week, while potential ace Tyler Glasnow just wrapped up a ’pen of his own. Glasnow, who’s hoping to return from a forearm strain as a reliever, is on track for a rehab assignment and could return during the club’s next homestand, which spans August 30 to September 8. Contributions from those two, as well as solid starter Yonny Chirinos, who’s feeling better three weeks after hitting the shelf with finger inflammation in his pitching hand, would be a boon to a club up half a game on Oakland for the AL’s final playoff spot.
Benintendi isn’t a superstar, but he is very good. Good glove, a career plus ..800 OPS, with good speed and he just turned 25 in July.
Sometimes the expectations are set way too high. Benintendi is a good productive everyday outfielder and should remain that way. The type of player most teams like to have in their lineup.
I remember being lambasted by many when I said Benintendi would likely have a Nick Markakis-type career, as if Markakis was some kind of ham and egger-er…..Bene’s probably a little bit better (more speed, better “D”, though not by much)…..for some fans, every prospect that doesn’t become Mike Trout is a bust….
Markakis is a fair comparison so far in his career. So Far a slightly above average hitter with good OBP and fair to good power. Nothing wrong with that career.
Calhoun is yet another of these 1-tool guys, but since that tool is power, in 2019 he’s seen as a star.
Power is not it. He’s batting .292
His hit tool and power tool are both excellent. He’s also just fine in the field.
he looks way better this year, maybe a couple more years of the slimmed down version of Calhoun gets the defensive metrics higher on him.
Well he’s hitting more than enough to make himself valuable and the rangers need all the bats they can get if you haven’t seen the bottom half of their lineup
Calhoun’s minor league batting eye was other worldly
Hopefully, as he gets more familiar with mlb pitching that can translate.
Benni is a player most teams would want. He’s got pop n D, who can ask for more? He’s made some of the finest catches I’ve ever seen n done them clutch. Trade Mookie since he is going to FA, tie up Benni n Raffy, now you have the team foundation.