Will Benson

Fantasy News

• Reds' Will Benson: Relegated to Louisville

  Rotowire Mar 15, 2025

  The Reds optioned Benson to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. Benson had a pretty underwhelming season with the Reds in 2024, slashing .187/.274/.376 with 14 homers, 43 RBI and 16 stolen bases over 128 games. He managed to bounce back during Cactus League play, posting an .853 OPS over 30 plate appearances, though 10 of those plate appearances ended in strikeouts. He'll head to Triple-A for now, though Benson could return to Cincinnati if he gets hot or outfield depth becomes an issue.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Could open in minors

  Rotowire Feb 22, 2025

  Benson was not part of Cincinnati's Opening Day roster projection compiled by C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Benson dropped off a cliff in 2024, posting a .187/.274/.376 line over 388 plate appearances, which puts an MLB job in jeopardy. There are still some moving parts before manager Terry Francona settles on a 26-man roster, so Benson to the minors is not a done deal. His eventual assignment hinges on the health of Spencer Steer (shoulder), and whether the manager has Gavin Lux stick mainly to infield duty.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Reworks swing

  Rotowire Feb 1, 2025

  Benson reworked his swing during the offseason, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Benson needed to do something to become a more competitive option for the outfield in 2025. He batted .187 (.180 expected average) with a 39.7 strikeout percentage last year. Benson managed to provide some value with 16 steals, though finding playing time may be harder in this season. The Reds recently added outfielder Austin Hays and plan to move Matt McLain to center field; it will be hard for Benson to carve out a regular role with such a crowded mix in the outfield.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Swipes another bag

  Rotowire Sep 22, 2024

  Benson went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-1 win over the Pirates. Benson, who has started just five of 19 games this month, was in the starting lineup for a second straight contest. He singled, stole second base and waltzed home on an Elly De La Cruz home run. The stolen base was Benson's second in as many games and upped his season total to 16.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Enters as pinch hitter

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2024

  Benson entered Thursday's game as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-2 in a 15-3 loss to Milwaukee. Benson, who struck out with a runner in scoring position, stayed in the game as the designated hitter. He had been dealing with a finger injury and hadn't appeared in a game since Sunday.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Exits with finger injury

  Rotowire Sep 12, 2024

  Benson was removed from Thursday's game versus the Cardinals in the sixth inning after a ball struck his fingers on a bunt attempt, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. Benson squared to bunt with two on and no one out but had his left hand wrapped around the barrel of the bat and his fingers caught the brunt of a Sonny Gray pitch. To add insult to injury, Benson was charged with a strike on the play rather than a hit-by-pitch. He's surely headed for X-rays and should be considered day-to-day until his status is updated. Benson struck out in his lone plate appearance before exiting.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Returns to bench role

  Rotowire Sep 9, 2024

  Benson is out of the lineup for Monday's game in Atlanta. T.J. Friedl needed just one afternoon out of the lineup to recover from experiencing a shortness of breath in Saturday's 4-0 loss to the Mets, so Benson will head back to the bench as the Reds head to Atlanta for a standalone game. Before cracking the lineup Sunday, Benson hadn't started in any of the Reds' preceding five contests.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Goes yard again Thursday

  Rotowire Aug 29, 2024

  Benson went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Thursday's 10-9 win over the Athletics. Benson got the Reds on the board with his third-inning homer. This was his second game in a row with a homer, which could help his case for playing time down the stretch, but he's still unlikely to see anything more than a part-time role. The outfielder has gone 6-for-31 (.194) in August, which is right in line with his .195 average for the year. He's added 14 homers, 42 RBI, 37 runs scored and 14 stolen bases with a .676 OPS across 352 plate appearances. Even as a lefty hitter, Benson has had to share right field with a trio of right-handed options in Santiago Espinal, Rece Hinds and Amed Rosario.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Gets into lineup

  Rotowire Aug 9, 2024

  Benson started in left field and went 1-for-2 with a stolen base in Thursday's 10-4 extra-inning win over Miami. Benson made his first start since being reinstated off the paternity list Wednesday. The steal was his 14th. He was later pinch hit for when a left-handed reliever entered, which has been the custom for much of this season. Benson, who is batting .196 overall, is 7-for-51 (.137) against southpaws.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Back from paternity leave

  Rotowire Aug 7, 2024

  The Reds activated Benson (personal) from the paternity list Wednesday. Benson missed the last three games while welcoming a new member to his family. He's not in the lineup for Wednesday's game in Miami with right-hander Valente Bellozo on the mound for the Marlins, but Benson will be available off the bench. Benson has held down a strong-side platoon role for much of the season, but he may be in store for fewer opportunities against right-handed pitching following the Reds' recent acquisition of Ty France.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Goes on paternity leave

  Rotowire Aug 4, 2024

  The Reds placed Benson (personal) on the paternity list Sunday. Benson will miss between one and three games while he welcomes a new addition to his family. Joey Wiemer was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to add depth to the Cincinnati outfield in the short term.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Slugs 12th home run

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2024

  Benson went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's 7-1 win over the Cubs. Benson got the scoring started in this one, taking Jameson Taillon deep in the second inning. It was Benson's 12th long ball of the season, which gives him a new career high. Benson has four home runs in July, but other than that, he's struggled mightily since the middle of June, hitting .152/.201/.299 over his last 36 games. The 26-year-old continues to be plagued by high strikeout numbers and doesn't get on base enough to take advantage of his speed and his 13 stolen bases this year.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Resting for nightcap

  Rotowire Jul 24, 2024

  Benson is out of the lineup for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with Atlanta. The lefty-hitting Benson will head to the bench for the second game of the day while southpaw Chris Sale takes the hill for Atlanta. Stuart Fairchild will enter the starting nine in center field in place of Benson, who went 1-for-4 with a double in Cincinnati's 9-4 win in the first game of the day.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Homer, two steals in win

  Rotowire Jul 22, 2024

  Benson went 2-for-2 with a solo home run and two stolen bases in a 4-1 win over Atlanta on Monday. Benson went yard in the third inning and then stole second and third base in the fifth. Even so, he was pinch-hit for against a southpaw in the ninth. On the season, the 26-year-old is hitting a miserable .194 but has contributed 11 home runs and 13 steals across 299 plate appearances while starting against most right-handed pitchers.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Not starting against southpaw

  Rotowire Jul 20, 2024

  Benson isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against the Nationals. Lefty MacKenzie Gore will toe the slab for the Nats, so the lefty-hitting Benson will step out of the lineup while Austin Slater covers center field and bats sixth.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Not facing lefty

  Rotowire Jul 19, 2024

  Benson is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Nationals. Benson will yield to Stuart Fairchild in center field Friday due to southpaw Patrick Corbin starting for Washington. Benson is slashing .190/.277/657 with 10 home runs and 11 stolen bases in 293 plate appearances this season.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Taking seat against southpaw

  Rotowire Jul 14, 2024

  Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins. Benson and fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Jake Fraley will retreat to the bench for the final game before the All-Star break while the Marlins send a southpaw (Trevor Rogers) to the hill. Austin Slater and Spencer Steer will replace Benson and Fraley in center field and left field, respectively.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Out against left-hander

  Rotowire Jul 3, 2024

  Benson is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Yankees. Benson clubbed a two-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Yankees, but he'll take a seat Wednesday with lefty Carlos Rodon toeing the slab for the opposition. Blake Dunn is covering right field for the Reds.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Contributes to win

  Rotowire Jun 30, 2024

  Benson went 1-for-5 with a stolen base, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 9-4 win over St. Louis. Benson hit a two-run single, stole a base, then scored as part of Cincinnati's six-run fifth inning. The outfielder has four RBI over the last three games, which follows a miserable 14-game stretch during which he was 1-for-31 with no runs driven in.

  ... See More ... See Less

• Reds' Will Benson: Logs steal in loss

  Rotowire Jun 29, 2024

  Benson started in right field and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 1-0 loss to St. Louis. Benson, who was given a rare day off against a righty Wednesday, was in the starting lineup for a second consecutive game against a right-hander Friday. He stole his 10th base of the season, putting himself in scoring position, but Cincinnati was unable to get a key hit (1-for-10 with RISP). While Benson has struggled in 2024 -- he snapped a hitless run of 25 at-bats Thursday and is batting .191 -- the Reds have a couple of outfield injuries that should keep him in the lineup over the weekend. They are scheduled to face another righty, Lance Lynn, on Saturday.

  ... See More ... See Less