Benintendi: 'True Honor' To Be Part Of Red Sox Organization
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Red Sox are well represented at the 2016 All-Star festivities in San Diego, starting in Sunday night's Futures Game.
A pair of Boston's most promising stars took part in the annual exhibition for MLB's best prospects, with outfielder Andrew Benintendi batting leadoff for Team USA and Yoan Moncada winning MVP honors for Team World after crushing a two-run homer in the eighth inning. Moncada went 2-for-5 in Team World's 11-3 victory, while Benintendi went 0-for-3 at the plate.
Both players appear poised for a late-summer call up to Boston, though that's the furthest thing from Benintendi's mind right now. The 22-year-old is focused on improving his overall game, and it appears that hard work is paying off. In 81 games split between Single-A Salem and Double-A Portland this season, Benintendi is hitting .311 with a .346 OBP and a .906 OPS, to go with seven homers (six of which have come in his 47 games with Portland).
"It's been a whirlwind, really, this past year," he told WBZ-TV's Dan Roche following the Futures Game on Sunday. "I've been extremely blessed to be a part of this organization and I go out every day and wear the Red Sox name with pride. To be a part of this organization is a true honor.
"I try not to think about [getting called up] and try to control the things I can control; that's to play hard and trust in the process," Benintendi added. "Hopefully one day I'll be up there at Fenway and playing with the Red Sox, but right now I'm just focused on going back to Portland and helping them win games."
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