The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Benson road swings into Lake County
These days, Will Benson is a power-hitting prospect worth watching in the Indians’ minorleague system. He’ll be the starting left fielder for the full-season Single-A Captains when they open the 2018 season at home April 5 against the Fort Wayne (Ind.) TinCaps. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Classic Park.
The 19-year-old Georgia native was selected by the Indians in the first round of the June 2016 draft out of high school in Georgia.
Last year, at short-season Mahoning Valley, Benson batted .238 with 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 56 games. Baseball America rates him as the 10th-best prospect in the Indians’ organization.
Not so long ago, though, Benson was getting plenty of attention for his prowess on the basketball court.
At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, Benson was a combo guard who averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists as a senior at The Westminster Schools in Atlanta. He was a Class AAA allstate honorable mention, an Atlanta/South Fulton All-Metro second-team selection and Coaches’ Choice all-state honoree.
In a YouTube highlight package, you’ll see a physically dominant, left-handed player with a smooth shot who, when he wasn’t scoring on 3-pointers and powerful drives to the rim, moved well on the dribble and found teammates with a variety of sharp passes.
“My favorite player always has been LeBron James, but I also really like Russell Westbrook,” Benson said April 3 before the Captains played a simulated game at Classic Park.
“By the time I was 16 or 17, I knew I was going to focus on baseball and try to make it a career,” Benson added.
As a senior at Westminster, he batted .454 with 11 doubles, eight home runs and 41 RBI in 35 games. The left-handed hitter also successfully stole 11 bases in 12 attempts.
Also an outstanding student with a 3.7 GPA. Benson was heavily recruited as a baseball player by Division I colleges and signed a National Letter of Intent with Duke.
When the Indians tabbed him with the 14th overall pick in the draft, Benson elected to pass on the Duke scholarship and sign with the Indians. He received a $2.5 million bonus.
“I will go to Duke at some point and get my degree, but for now, this was the right choice,” Benson said. “The Indians and me are a match made in heaven.”
Benson has forged a strong bond with Nolan Jones, the Indians secondround pick in the June 2016 draft out of high school in Pennsylvania. They made their professional debuts in 2016 with the rookie-league Arizona Indians, then moved up last season to Mahoning Valley.
Jones, also powerfully built at 6-4 and 215 pounds, is the Captains’ starting third baseman this season. Baseball America rates him as the fourth-best prospect in the Indians’ organization.
Benson laughed when told Jones, his roommate, described him as “the biggest teddy bear in the world.”
“That’s pretty accurate,” Benson said. “I’m very easygoing, but I’m also competitive and really get after it on the field.”
This season, Benson said his goals are to hit for a better average while maintaining his power. In his first two seasons of professional baseball, Benson hit .225 in 100 games with 16 home runs, 63 RBI, 140 strikeouts and 53 walks.
“I’m focused on being more contact-oriented and cutting down on the strikeouts,” Benson said. “My goal is to be a threat every time I step into the (batter’s) box.”
Captains manager Luke Carlin was the manager last season at Mahoning Valley.
“Will is a great athlete, but the person is even more impressive to me,” Carlin said.
Benson’s parents, Ramona and Ted Benson, live in Atlanta. His older sister, Heather, is a professional dancer.
“My goal is to be a threat every time I step into the (batter’s) box.” Captains prospect Will Benson