Playing for multiple teams and multiple franchises is certainly commonplace for most Major League players.
In the case of Will Benson, the state of Ohio has been a mainstay in his professional career.
Benson was a first round selection (14th overall) of the Cleveland Indians in the 2016 Major League Baseball Draft. He developed power while working his way through the minor leagues with 22 homers in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.
COVID wasn’t friendly to minor league players in 2020 but upon his return to the field in 2021 he found himself seeing playing time at the Triple A level. His ability to maintain his power stroke, cut down on his strikeouts, and hit for average earned him a promotion to Cleveland (now the Guardians) in August of 2022.
Traded to the Cincinnati Reds in February of 2023, Benson was determined to show that his new team made the right move and had a terrific spring training.
He was the opening day left fielder, able to play behind fellow bro Hunter Greene. Unfortunately that stint didn’t start off well and was sent down to Triple A Louisville where he would go back and forth for the next two months of the season. Benson was able to truly contribute to a winning Cincinnati team as he finished the season with a .275 batting average and 11 bro bombs. 2024 was an eventful year for the Atlanta, Georgia native.
In August he welcomed the birth of a baby girl to the family. On the field he did something that no other Major Leaguer did that season and that was start at least 30 games at all three outfield positions. He certainly showed versatility as he hit a career high 14 homers but his strikeout numbers climbed to a high as well along with a significant dip in his batting average.
Those numbers along with a mediocre spring training prevented him from making the Reds 2025 opening day roster. That fire seems to have reappeared in the eyes of the now 26year old. He had seven homeruns and hit .289 over the first six weeks of the minor league season. Cincinnati has always taken notice of Benson and on May 9 recalled him again from Louisville.
The lefty hitter was hitting .367 through Sunday and slugged four homers in a 3 game sweep of his former Cleveland Guardians team.
The Reds are now at the .500 mark and perhaps can make some noise in the National League. Benson now in his tenth professional season has played for six different teams in Ohio. Four in the minor leagues and two in the majors, where he hopes to stay.
