2022 Minor League Thread

[sportscoach]

How good is Benson's outfield defense?

Could he be a rare super utility OF guy who you can use both as a power/walk threat ping hitter and a defensive replacement?

Or is he they type who would need more regular at bats to stay mentally locked in to his hitting approach?

Sorry if this is something the regulars have hashed out 100 times before.

When it comes to defense, he is a plus in both corners and can easily play CF. He isn't Straw out there, but you wouldn't be scared to see him out there as a regular.

His offense, is his issue. He was an athlete before baseball player when drafted. Batters eye is there, its the swing he keeps working on and needs more time to get right. This has been his best season and it was at AAA so it tells me he is starting to get something together.

At the moment, he is a 4th OF who takes walks and can hit for power, just poor BA/contact skills. If he can fix that issue, he will be a legit big leaguer, likely a corner OF. I think he is more gonna be the type that is most effective with everyday ABs...

 

[MadThinker88]

How good is Benson's outfield defense?

Could he be a rare super utility OF guy who you can use both as a power/walk threat ping hitter and a defensive replacement?

Or is he they type who would need more regular at bats to stay mentally locked in to his hitting approach?

Sorry if this is something the regulars have hashed out 100 times before.

I believe Will needs to play on a regular basis. I believe it was Bimbo that posted a few weeks back that Benson has alter & updated his swing throughout his time in the minors but when the game is going on, he reverts back to his old ways.
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Here is part of the prospect report on Will Benson from GBI this spring..

Will Benson 2022 scouting report and grades​

Hit	Power	Run	Defense	Arm	Overall	Risk	MLB ETA	Roster Status
30	60	55	55	70	40+	Extreme	2023	Not On 40/R5 Eligible 2022

Build & Background​

Built like your prototypical NBA small forward, standing 6’6” and weighing around 250 pounds with a chiseled and athletic frame. He was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians with the 14th overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft, foregoing a baseball scholarship to Duke University. Benson was a multi-sport star during his time in high school, simultaneously being one of the best high school basketball and baseball prospects in the state of Georgia. He has been best friends with fellow Cleveland Guardians farmhand Xzavion Curry since they were eight years old

What Benson does well​

Benson’s skillset begins and ends with his ability to draw walks and hit for power. He has never posted a walk rate below 12% at any level in his entire professional career and has never hit less than 17 home runs in a season since he made his full season debut in 2018, eclipsing 20 twice. In addition to that burgeoning power due to his towering size, he is an above-average baserunner who could easily swipe 15 bags at the MLB level and put up a BsR well above-average along the way. Benson’s athleticism allows him to be an above-average defender in right or left field that can moonlight in centerfield every once in a while with an elite throwing arm to boot.

Where Benson needs to improve​

The only true blemish in his game is his ability to make contact and put the ball in play, and calling it a blemish is an understatement. The lowest strikeout percentage he has posted at any level is 28%, and that is a huge red flag. He has an inherently long swing due to his long arms and a large strike zone to deal with as well.

Intangibles​

Benson has been praised throughout the Guardians organization as a high character guy since the day his professional career started. Individuals were remarked at how intentional and diligent he has been at trying to improve parts of his game that need work. He has always displayed mental fortitude throughout his professional career, bouncing back from ugly stretches with little productivity after being promoted to a higher level to make adjustments.

 

[petes999]

Bimbo was asked a few weeks back to rank CF defensive skill set, esp Brennan but said

In order I'd go: Benson, Kokx, Durango, Brennan

Yes. He's a legit MLB CFer.

 

[MirORich]

Thanks guys. I was thinking more long term than immediate, but if he can get the needed time for further development with his new swing, I wouldn’t mind if he because a 4th outfielder who could bring plus defense, late inning defensive replacement qualities, pinch hitting capabilities with a power or walk outcome on the positive end of things.

 

[sportscoach]

Aka this organization is really rooting for Benson to succeed. They love his character, work ethic etc. so if he can show he can have a decent contact rate, I think he gets a roster spot..

 

[CDAV45]

Benson has been playing Centerfield lately with Nolan Jones in RF. Bensons tools are similar to Brad Zimmer

That might be a pretty fair assessment Mcreek. The only thing that Benson seems to lack is the bat to ball skill. He can run like a deer, has a cannon for an arm, is willing to take a walk, and can hit the ball into the next county.

 

[Martyinnewyork]

Aka this organization is really rooting for Benson to succeed. They love his character, work ethic etc. so if he can show he can have a decent contact rate, I think he gets a roster spot..

The person rooting hardest for Benson is whoever convinced the tribe to take him with their top pick!

And please don’t compare him to Zimmer, that will turn the masses off completely…

 

[sportscoach]

The person rooting hardest for Benson is whoever convinced the tribe to take him with their top pick!

And please don’t compare him to Zimmer, that will turn the masses off completely…

He really isnt like Zimmer since Zimmer doesn't take walks, he is closer to a Carlos Pena type that can play a solid OF...

 

[petes999]

With Scott doing an inning of relief, there maybe a starter coming up. Plus, when they get Espino back, that’s 7 starters with Espino and Williams ... so maybe 2nd later.

 

[sportscoach]

With Scott doing an inning of relief, there maybe a starter coming up. Plus, when they get Espino back, that’s 7 starters with Espino and Williams ... so maybe 2nd later.

I don't think Williams or Espino gets to AAA unless it's for a playoff start...

 

[CATS44]

In the minors...

Zimmer....11% BB rate...26% K rate
Benson....15% BB rate...30% K rate

When you say Bud, you've said it all.

When you say the only thing a prospect lacks is bat to ball skills, you've said it all.

 

[Tondo]

In the minors...

Zimmer....11% BB rate...26% K rate
Benson....15% BB rate...30% K rate

When you say Bud, you've said it all.

When you say the only thing a prospect lacks is bat to ball skills, you've said it all.

Meaningless, because no context.

I hated the Benson pick, great guy, but total project.

Yes, he's elevated his prospect status to Zimmer, but his SwStr% keeps going down. It was at 15% in the past, it's now all the way down to 9%, that's top 10 in the entire system just behind Will Brennan.

As long as Benson is improving, he's a depth prospect worth following. Time is running out in this system, but he's probably one OF injury or Mercado DFA away from getting a look.

 

[sportscoach]

In the minors...

Zimmer....11% BB rate...26% K rate
Benson....15% BB rate...30% K rate

When you say Bud, you've said it all.

When you say the only thing a prospect lacks is bat to ball skills, you've said it all.

You forgot one thing...

Is the 22.9% SO rate in 22 at AAA a fluke?

 

[southernflyer]

In the minors...

Zimmer....11% BB rate...26% K rate
Benson....15% BB rate...30% K rate

When you say Bud, you've said it all.

When you say the only thing a prospect lacks is bat to ball skills, you've said it all.

Reminds me of a WR with all the tools except a lot of dropped balls. Techniques can be taught or enhanced, but Dennis Northcutt is still remembered as Dropcutt no matter how many balls he caught in front of a jugs machine.

 

[CATS44]

We've had this exact same conversation for years....nobody likes to hear that one of our power prospects can't make consistent contact...even though we've had highly thought of failed prospect after failed prospect, because they can't make contact.

My goodness, our high draft pick list is strewn with the smoking debris of power batters who could not hit.

You want context?

Name one decent power hitter in the last 30 years we've had that K'd 25% of the time, or more, in the minors.

Don't name...

Belle...23%
Thome...17%
Grady...15%
Pronk...21%
Franmil...21%
Victor...11%
Carlos....15%
Manny....20%
JRam....8%
Lindor....14%

But we keep waiting for the train to arrive for guys like Zimmer, Bradley, Brennan, and Jones....while making excuses for them all and citing small sample sizes of supposed progress.

We do love our huge left hand batters that can't hit a baseball and who melt like the Wicked Witch of the West whenever they face a lefty.

The reason this org has not been able to develop outfielders is simple. It has drafted batters that couldn't hit a baseball, but looked like a power forward or outside linebacker.

That changed about six years ago. Now we have a very young lineup of kids who can hit a baseball.

Fans complain that these kids can't do this and can't do that, but they are ranked eighth in the AL in fWAR with lots of upside. That may not sound like much, but the previous three years they were ranked 11th, 15th (last), and 10th.