Will Benson's Development is a Crucial Factor in Cincinnati Reds' Potential Success

The Cincinnati Reds saw a monumental influx of talent last season. Will Benson was a big part of their resurgence. He established himself has a key piece of the roster. 

Can he be more than the best No. 9 hitter in baseball?

Benson made the most of his opportunities last season. He played in 108 games and made 329 plate appearances. The Reds limited his exposure to left-handed pitching, which helped him flourish.

His OPS+, a statistic that attempts to boil hitting down to one number, was quite impressive. A league average OPS+ is 100. Benson was at 130. 

That means he was 30% better than the league average hitter. What limits Benson from becoming an everyday force is his limitations against lefties and his consistency in the field.

Let’s start by looking at his platoon struggles. In 41 at-bats against southpaws, Benson had just six hits (five singles). He also struck out 14 times and walked only three times. 

That is a tiny sample size, but the Reds have made it a point to minimize a player’s exposure to unfavorable matchups.

When he played for the Guardians Triple-A affiliate in Columbus, Benson had 72 at-bats against lefties in 2022. He did manage 18 hits, including three doubles and two home runs.

It may not be feasible for the Reds to continually expose Benson to lefties, but it would be nice if he could unlock that part of his game to become an everyday player. The Reds are entering a contention window where it will be difficult to jeopardize wins due to development.

When it comes to fielding, the numbers show his inconsistency. According to Baseball Savant, Benson accumulated -2 outs above average. If you watched him last season, it isn't hard to understand why.

Benson had very inconsistent routes that he took to fly balls and line drives. He over-ran the ball at times, he misplayed bounces. Some of this may be worked out with more reps. There will be a microscope on him, especially with heightened expectations for the entire team. 

Benson is definitely able to provide the Reds with production at the plate, but there are questions he needs to answer against lefties and in the field. He may be able to avoid facing lefties too many times, but the designated hitter spot in the lineup already has too many candidates. Benson will need to improve his consistency in the field to take the next step and help the Reds make a run this season.