BOSTON — On Monday, Andrew Benintendi hit a home run in the eighth inning against Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman, narrowing the White Sox’s gap to 4-2. Before the matchup, Red Sox manager Alex Cora reminisced about the left fielder’s vital role in the team’s 2018 World Series triumph. “Honestly, we couldn’t have won it without him,” Cora remarked before the conclusion of the four-game series.
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Benintendi inked a five-year, $75 million deal with Chicago in January 2023. The 30-year-old has managed a .245 batting average, a .307 on-base percentage, a .376 slugging percentage, and a .683 OPS across 299 games (1,192 plate appearances) for Chicago. “Things haven’t panned out the way he might have anticipated,” Cora stated. “Yet, when his career wraps up, we’ll look back and say, ‘He’s an exceptional player, really.’ He’s good.
I believe he’s emerged as a leader there. They’ve gone through a lot in recent years, and in his own way, he’s likely doing a commendable job.” In 2018, the Red Sox achieved a franchise-record 108 wins and subsequently went 11-3 in the playoffs, defeating the Dodgers in five games to secure the World Series. Benintendi sealed Game 4 of the ALCS for Boston against Houston with a remarkable two-out diving catch in the ninth inning.
Then-Astros standout Alex Bregman’s sinking liner with the bases loaded had a 79% chance of being a hit, but Benintendi snagged it for the final out in an 8-6 victory. If it had eluded him, the Astros could have tied the game, with all three runs possibly scoring. Cora described Benintendi’s demeanor as “very calm.” “He’s quite reserved with everyone, very courteous, but once it’s game time, he turns into something else,” Cora noted.
“Batting second in that lineup was crucial for us. Defensively, he was outstanding. That play against Alex was incredible. The catch near the wall in the World Series. His base running was significant for us. We discuss the adjustments he made going into ’19, possibly trying to do a bit more than necessary. But overall, he’s a truly remarkable player.”
