John Farrell: Everything points to Andrew Benintendi returning this week
Benintendi was sidelined with a gruesome-looking knee sprain on Aug. 25
When Andrew Benintendi was caught too having drifted too far from second base against the Rays on Aug. 25, the fleet-footed youngster planted his left knee and pushed off in an attempt to scurry back to the base, but wound up sprawled on the ground in a heap of pain.
In that moment, it looked very likely that one of the few players in the Red Sox lineup who had not been suffering the ill-effects of the dog-days of August had just sent his season up in flames.
Now, all that stands between Benintendi and his return to the Red Sox lineup is a simulated game that the team plans to conduct sometime Tuesday.
“I feel really good,” Benintendi said, just after completing a drill that tested his ability to slide without pain. “Been working a lot with the training staff, they’ve done a great job and I feel like I’m ready to go.”
Slides today, and if all continues to go well, sim game tomorrow for Benintendi pic.twitter.com/YnaSY1TOnH
— Evan Drellich (@EvanDrellich) September 12, 2016
Last week, Benintendi passed two more “tests” the Red Sox laid out for him, taking swings during batting practice in San Diego, and running the bases later in the week just shy of full speed.
Here is Benintendi running. Doesn’t seem like quite game speed. But looks pretty good. pic.twitter.com/aHdPo028ia
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) September 9, 2016
“Everything points to him coming back this week,” manager John Farrell said. “The fact that we’re getting him back with 15 to 18 games remaining is a hell of a lot more than we anticipated when he came off the field in Tampa. I think from that standpoint, we’re just looking at it as a plus.”
Benintendi had to be fitted with a large brace over his knee, but said he has adjusted to it, so it should not impede his ability to play. Rust could still be an issue for the outfielder, though, and Farrell pointed out that the red-hot Chris Young won’t simply concede his playing time.
Since the start of September, Young is 9-for-20, with six of those hits going for extra bases – three doubles and three home runs.
“Chris Young has been important to this team, and that role, that importance won’t change,” Farrell said. “I look at it like we’re adding an exciting young player who has more than held his own in a handful of at bats.”
In 21 games since being promoted two levels from Double A Portland, Benintendi hit .324 with an .850 OPS. It’s not a bad problem for the Red Sox to have and Benintendi may need to be worked back in slowly. It could also spell the end of Brock Holt in left field, where he has struggled mightily.
But when Benintendi arrived, he sparked a Red Sox offense that was doing as poorly as it had done all season. Now he returns to a team that has scored 38 runs in its last four games, all against AL East opponents.
He could be a useful tool in John Farrell’s kit, as a starter or off the bench, come playoff time – should the Red Sox maintain their positioning.
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