The Padres released left-hander Wes Benjamin earlier this week, as pointed out by Baseball America’s Matt Eddy in a review of minor league moves. He joined the organization in February on a minor league deal with a non-roster invite to MLB Spring Training. Benjamin spent his 2025 campaign with Triple-A El Paso.
Texas took Benjamin in the fifth round of the 2014 draft. He posted solid results as he moved through the Rangers’ system, recording a sub-4.00 ERA in each of his first four seasons. Benjamin reached Triple-A in 2019. He struggled to a 5.52 ERA, but set career highs in starts (25) and innings (135 1/3).
Benjamin debuted with the Rangers in the shortened 2020 season. He scuffled to a 4.84 ERA over eight appearances, though his xERA was more than a run lower. Benjamin got another look with the big-league club in 2021, but was blasted for 22 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings. He elected minor league free agency at the end of the season.
After a brief stint in the White Sox system, Benjamin would head abroad. He joined the KT Wiz of the KBO partway through the 2022 season. Benjamin produced solid results over three years with the Wiz, including a 15-win season in 2023. He wrapped up his time in Korea with a respectable 3.74 ERA over 406 innings.
Benjamin had an ugly 6.42 ERA with the Chihuahuas this past season. His xERA and xFIP were both above 5.50. He also lost time to injury.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images.
Someone should try him as a relief pitcher
Nutting has always been pretty cheap when it comes to parting with the Benjamins
He has a pretty sweet name for an umpire when he’s done playing ball. I’d expect a fair strike zone and clean game with Wes Benjamin behind the plate.
“Wes Benjamin” that’s a 1970s/1980s baseball name. I like it.
Here’s his stats – baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=ben…
I got confused, thinking that he pitched for the Red Sox a long time ago. I combined Wes Gardner & Mike Benjamin in my mind who pitched in the 80’s & 90’s. (Yes, I am old).
Several Wes Covington fans took a rather restrained note of this development, and naturally so given they average 89 years of age and are thus curbed in their Wes-based enthusiasm.
@sergefunction
And now you know the Wes-t of the story.
I don’t think he ever put on a Padres uniform in the regular season and he got crushed in AAA. In the PCL where the average ERA is 5.45, he was at nearly 6.42. He can probably still get paid 7 figures in the KBO, but in the Us he is looking at being back on the bus
It’s fine they took a flier on him for depth but looking at his profile he probably wasn’t that close to putting on the MLB uniform this past year. Soft tossing lefty, most used pitch is an 85mph cutter and even his 4 seam averages out at just 90mph. That doesn’t leave much margin for error with command/control so when his BB% just shy of 10% its not going to work.
He should be looking for KBO jobs.
So I guess it’s NOT all about the Benjamins…
It’s all about the Benjamin.
Now this !!