Sky is the limit for this mentally tough Reds outfielder
This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CINCINI — In the early days of his professional career, Reds outfielder Will Benson acknowledged he focused much of his atNATtention on shaping his chiseled body and building strength. In 2023, his first season with Cincinnati, Benson realized he needed to be just as strong mentally.
That came during an early-season test, when Benson opened his tenure with the Reds going 1-for-25 (.040) with 14 strikeouts over his first 10 games in two big league stints.
“I learned why I struggled. A lot of it had to do with the mental side of the game,” Benson told Jim Day and me on Wednesday during the Hot Stove League on the Reds Radio Network. “It’s just being able to really bear down when the going gets tough, especially when it’s pressured like that. I feel like, new team and making the team, I got off to such a slow start that every at-bat felt like I was fighting for my life, which in a way, yes. But also, no. It’s going to be all right. Just continue to focus on the day-to-day work and showing up.”
Benson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on May 26 and didn’t go back. He hit .298 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs and a .931 OPS over his next 98 games.
The Reds acquired Benson from the Guardians on Feb. 8, 2023, for Minor Leaguers Justin Boyd and Steve Hajjar just before camp opened. Benson now finds himself in a far different spot than one year ago, when he was simply battling in spring for an Opening Day roster spot.
“My thought process going into this year is to perform — perform well enough to where my actions are significant in us getting a playoff berth and going deep into the playoffs,” Benson said.
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