SEATTLE — Andrew Benintendi has seen it from the opposite facet. The Yankees’ new outfielder was on the sphere at Yankee Stadium celebrating clinching the American League East — and the AL Division Series — in 2018 with the Red Sox. Friday, nevertheless, would be the first time he heads again into Fenway Park to face his outdated workforce.
He remembers the sensation of seeing the Yankees throughout the sphere in these days.
“Obviously, the series are intense. And the fans are really into it. As are we,” Benintendi mentioned. “For me, I think, it’ll be the same as it was — intense. But I’ll just be on the other side.”
Benintendi is heading again to Fenway for the primary time since he was traded in a three-team deal from the Red Sox to the Royals in February 2021. Last season, Benintendi was injured when Kansas City went to Boston, so will probably be his first time again.
“I am looking forward to just seeing some of my old teammates. I got to see a few of them during the All-Star Game this year, which is nice, but a couple others I haven’t seen in a while,” Benintendi mentioned. “And I am looking forward to going back and playing in front of that Wall and hitting there.”
Benintendi goes again feeling like he is a bit more on steady floor after a wild two weeks. After going 1-for-20 in his first seven video games with the Yankees, Benintendi is settling into the All-Star type that had the Bombers keen to accumulate him. Over his final 5 video games, Benintendi is slashing .316/.350/.536 with an .870 OPS. He’s performed an excellent defensive left discipline all alongside.
“I think I’m just settling down more and I get to know the guys better and obviously playing better helps out with all that too,” Benintendi mentioned. “So, yeah, first week just flew by and glad to be settled in now and just put it back together.”
It was a whirlwind for Benintendi.
On July 27, he flew to New York City with the Royals, able to play a four-game collection towards the Yankees. He was in his resort room when Royals supervisor Mike Matheny knocked on his door and instructed him he had been traded to the Bombers. He spent the remainder of the night time hanging out with some Royals teammates and within the morning confirmed up on the Stadium to try to beat them.
“It was different,” Benintendi mentioned. “I type of had a sense that was my final flight with [the Royals], as a result of the [trade] deadline was arising and my identify had been talked about lots.
“But I had no idea, I would end up staying in New York and playing for the Yankees.”
The 28-year-old Benintendi was hitting .320/.387/.398 with three dwelling runs with the Royals on the time of the commerce. The left-handed hitter made his first All-Star Game look this season and is scheduled to turn out to be a free agent after the season. A 2021 Gold Glove winner was a stable improve over Joey Gallo, who the Yankees desperately wanted to exchange.
Part of the Yankees’ choice to deliver Benintendi in was having watched him when he was with the Red Sox. After Gallo wilted below the brilliant lights in New York, the Bombers wanted to ensure they’d a participant who might deal with the strain.
Benintendi has performed below the tough lights in Boston and been profitable.
He made the postseason 3 times with the Red Sox, together with profitable a World Series. He has hit .272/.322/.407 with two dwelling runs and 9 RBI in 21 profession postseason video games. In 2018, he began 13 of 14 playoff video games for the Red Sox throughout their World Series run.
That run started with the division collection win over the Yankees, the place they celebrated on the sphere within the Bronx.
“We had some good teams,” Benintendi mentioned of his 5 years with the Red Sox. “I remember the rivalry [with the Yankees] as intense and both teams being neck-and-neck in the standings, so it was fun. I am looking forward to it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com