Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson has enjoyed a strong start to the Triple-A regular season. Through his first four contests, Benson has tallied at least two hits in all but one and even posted a three-hit outing in the season opener. Across this stint, Benson has held a stellar .421/.421/.684 slash line with eight total hits. Benson has hit one triple and one round-tripper. The 26-year-old has brought in three runs and scored seven. This is a great sign for Benson, as he was unable to make the Opening Day roster. After posting a promising .275/.365/.498 slash line during the 2023 campaign in Cincinnati, Benson took a significant step back in 2024 as he slashed an underwhelming .187/.274/.376 line with just 14 long balls. Benson is worth monitoring in deeper formats as he could eventually earn another opportunity in the majors. He could be worth taking a flyer on when he does get the call, given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Benson was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but will instead begin his 2025 campaign in the minor leagues. Benson struggled at the plate last season as he held an underwhelming .187/.274/.376 slash line with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases. He generated a poor .268 xwOBA with a .180 xBA. This was a sharp decline when looking at the .275/.365/.498 slash line with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. During that campaign, Benson generated a solid 42.3 percent hard-hit rate and drew walks at an elite 12.2 percent rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression at Triple-A as he should be in the mix to return to the big leagues as an injury replacement. When he does get the call, he could be worth a look in deeper NL-only leagues, given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson could open the season in the minor leagues. Given the depth in the Cincinnati outfield, Benson may be on the outside, given his poor performance in the majors last season. However, manager Terry Francona did note that the 26-year-old will be given opportunities in the spring. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on his performance in spring training as it will likely provide clarity on where he will open the campaign. Last season, the former 14th overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft posted a poor .187/.274/.376 line with 14 home runs and 16 stolen bases across 128 games. This was a sharp decline from the .275/.365/.498 line he held during the 2023 campaign. He will compete for a corner outfield spot alongside Stuart Fairchild, Santiago Espinal, and Blake Dunn during camp.
According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson has reworked his swing during the offseason. Rosecrans noted that the 26-year-old had done this to give him a better opportunity to earn a role in a crowded outfield. Last season, Benson took a significant step back as he held a .187/.275/.376 slash line with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, and 16 stolen bases. In 2023, Benson posted a strong .275/.365/.489 line with 11 home runs and 19 stolen bases. In 2024, Benson generated a 40.1 percent hard-hit rate and a hefty 39.7 percent strikeout rate, both worse than his 2023 production. During the offseason, the Reds added Austin Hays to their outfield and have expressed interest in moving Matt McLain to center field. In addition, the Reds also have Spencer Steer, TJ Friedl, and Jake Fraley in their outfield. As a result, Benson will need to perform very well in spring training to open the season with a starting role.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (finger) is out of the lineup again on Thursday versus the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park. Benson injured his left middle finger on Sept. 12 and hasn't played since, but apparently he's feeling better after coming off the bench in the team's last two games. The 26-year-old left-handed slugger will continue to be an outfield bench bat to close out the season. He does have 14 round-trippers on the year and 14 stolen bases in 328 at-bats, but he's hitting just .192 (63-for-328). Benson has played in just seven games in the month of September and has only one hit, an RBI, three walks and five strikeouts in his 13 plate appearances. Since the All-Star break, he's hit .200 (14-for-70) with four homers, four doubles, 10 RBI, nine walks and 30 strikeouts in 79 plate appearances.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (finger) was forced to leave Thursday's game early against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals when his fingers were hit while trying to bunt. X-rays came back negative on Benson, though, and he was diagnosed with a bruised left middle finger. Before exiting the eventual 6-1 loss, Benson was hitless in his only at-bat with a strikeout. He was replaced by pinch-hitter Amed Rosario and was eventually replaced in left field by Jake Fraley. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should consider Benson day-to-day, but don't be surprised if he's not available for Friday's series opener in Minnesota against the Twins at Target Field. The 26-year-old former 14th overall pick by the Cleveland Guardians in 2016 has a modest power/speed combination as a platoon player in Cincy with 14 homers and 14 stolen bases, but his .191 average (62-for-325) has been a real drag.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson played a role in Monday's victory versus the Atlanta Braves. Benson went 2-for-2 with a walk, two stolen bases and a solo home run, before being pinch-hit for with Austin Slater in the top of the ninth inning. On the season, Benson is only hitting .194, but he has provided 11 homers, 34 RBI and 13 stolen bases. With sporadic playing time, the outfielder does not offer much value outside of the deepest daily leagues. He can safely remain on the waiver wire for now, but could become intriguing if the Reds make moves at the trade deadline and Benson gets a bigger opportunity.
Jeimer Candelario, Will Benson Not In Wednesday’s Lineup
Cincinnati Reds third baseman Jeimer Candelario and outfielder Will Benson are not in Wednesday's lineup as the Reds look to clinch a series victory over their division rival Pittsburgh Pirates. Candelario has started in each of the past five games with a modest .182 AVG. Benson usually slots in right-field against right-handed pitching, but Wednesday will be an exception. As a result, Santiago Espinal will man the hot corner and bat eighth, and Jake Fraley will cover right field and bat third. They will face Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz who enters this game with an overall 3.45 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP and allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in his previous start. Both are solid options in DFS this afternoon with a great matchup and playing in hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark.
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (elbow) is starting in left field and is batting eighth against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller on Tuesday. Benson was hit by a pitch on his left elbow on Sunday and he missed Monday's contest, but X-rays came back negative and he's back in action against a right-handed pitcher. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder should probably be avoided in DFS lineups on Tuesday for a variety of reasons, though. For one, he's hitless in six career at-bats against Keller. Second of all, Benson has really looked bat at the plate in the month of June, batting .156 (7-for-45) with a double, five RBI, one steal and 23 strikeouts in 19 games to drop his season line to a weak .192/.287/.379. Benson hasn't gone yard since May 28.
X-rays came back negative on Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson (elbow) after he was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox, according to manager David Bell. Benson went 0-for-3 and set a career-high hitless streak with an 0-for-21 slump before getting hit on the inside of his left elbow by a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning. He stayed in the game to take first base but was eventually replaced on defense in right field by Nick Martini in the top of the ninth inning. The 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder appears to have escaped a serious injury but he's unlikely to play on Monday for the series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially with the team facing a left-handed pitcher. Benson's cold stretch has dropped his season slash line to .192/.287/.379 with eight homers, 22 RBI and nine steals in 214 at-bats.
Will Benson
• LF
•
Reds
