#ProHogs Update: Benintendi Arrives In MLB

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In the midst of the dog days of summer, MLB is seeing its pennant races heating up. Now that the trade deadline has come and gone, many MLB teams hoped to have found that missing piece needed to make a postseason push. Some of those moves included former Razorbacks.

A lot of eyes were on the Boston Red Sox as the need of a third every day outfielder was apparent. Many expected the Red Sox front office to make a big trade at the deadline, but the organization decided to look inside the farm system and promote their No. 2 prospect and former Razorback Andrew Benintendi from Double-A.

Other Hogs that were on the move at the deadline included outfielder Brett Eibner, who was traded to Oakland from Kansas City, and pitcher Mike Bolsinger, who was sent to Toronto from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As for the former Hogs that stayed put, catcher James McCann is having another fantastic season for the Detroit Tigers. Even though he is only hitting .202 on the year, his 33 RBIs are just eight away from last year’s total and his eight home runs have already surpassed his total from 2015 (7). McCann is hitting .273 during his last seven games and half of his six hits have been homers during that span.

#ProHog of the Week: Andrew Benintendi

Benintendi became the 10th former Razorback to make an appearance in an MLB game this year after pinch-hitting late in Boston’s game Tuesday at Seattle. His ascent through the ranks is also the fastest for any former Razorback player and fastest by a Red Sox player since Fred Lynn in 1974.

In his first full game with Boston on Wednesday, Benintendi went 2-for-3, both hits being singles, and he was the only Red Sox player to have more than one hit in the game.

#ProHogs Statistics

PlayerGPAVGRH2B3BHRRBIBBSLGOB%SO
Andrew Benintendi (BOS)2.4000200000.400.4002
Logan Forsythe (TB)78.2754887202102926.446.34073
Andy Wilkins (MIL)16.1882100112.286.4736
Matt Reynolds (NYM)29.255713602102.490.28318
James McCann (DET)65.20217433183314.338.25168
PlayerW-LERAIPHRERHRHBBBSOAVGWHIP
Drew Smyly (TB)3-115.14124.1129777123232128.2691.29
Dallas Keuchel (HOU)6-114.86139.0145787517243119.2681.35

Other #ProHogs Notes

-Pitcher Blake Parker returned to the major leagues Thursday as the Seattle Mariners called him up from Triple-A Tacoma. He pitched a solid inning of scoreless relief against Boston the same day. This is Parker’s second stint in the majors as he spent three seasons with the Chicago Cubs before signing a free agent contract with Seattle last offseason.

-With Parker’s promotion, the Razorbacks have 11 former players that are currently on major league rosters or have appeared in an MLB game this season. That total is tied for the most in the SEC with LSU.

-In another MLB return, former Razorback first baseman Andy Wilkins returned to the big leagues in July when the Milwaukee Brewers called him up from Triple-A Colorado Springs. In his 11th game, Wilkins homered for the first time in his major league career.

#ProHog To Watch

Benintendi should make his next start for the Red Sox on Saturday when they play in Los Angeles against the Dodgers for the second of a three-game series starting at 3:05 p.m. CST. Boston is just three games back of Eastern Division-leading Baltimore and currently holds the second wild card spot at 59-48. The game can be seen on Fox Sports 1.

Jan-15-Promotions

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