The Reds recalled Benson from Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
The 27-year-old was demoted to Louisville a couple weeks ago but is back with the Reds after Jake Fraley (knee) was designated for assignment. Benson has a .224/.269/.415 slash line with nine home runs in 61 MLB games this season and should step in as Cincinnati's No. 4 outfielder.
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Reds' Will Benson: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Benson to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.
After Saturday's MLB Speedway Classic was suspended in the first inning due to rain, the Reds will be in need of an extra arm for the continuation of the contest Sunday. Having two minor-league options appears to have worked against Benson, who will head to the minors as Cincinnati brings right-hander Lyon Richardson aboard as its 27th man for the Speedway Classic. Benson should be back with the big club later this month.
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Reds' Will Benson: Productive in Friday's win
Rotowire
Benson went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Friday's 3-2 win over Atlanta.
He took reliever Dylan Dodd the other way in the seventh inning for his ninth long ball of the season, and his second off a left-handed pitcher. Benson remains a strong-side platoon player for the most part, but he's been struggling of late even in that role -- over 20 games since the beginning of July he's batting just .206 (13-for-63) with a 0:18 BB:K.
Benson went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers.
Benson's ninth-inning single produced the final run of the game, giving him an RBI in his last two contests. His playing time has dropped off significantly since the return of Jake Fraley; Benson's started just three of 10 games since the Reds returned from the All-Star break. He's batting .178 (24-for-135) over the last 46 contests.
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Reds' Will Benson: Losing out on playing time
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Nationals.
Following Jake Fraley's return from the injured list shortly before the All-Star break, Benson appears to have faded into a fourth-outfielder role. The left-handed-hitting Benson will take a seat for the fifth straight game, with the Reds facing three lefties and two righties during that stretch.
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Reds' Will Benson: On bench against southpaw
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.
After starting in each of the Reds' last eight games, Benson will take a seat against southpaw Austin Gomber. Though Benson has been holding down a strong-side platoon role since the middle of May, he could be in danger of losing playing time versus righties after the Reds activated Jake Fraley from the injured list Saturday. Benson got the nod in right field Saturday over Fraley against Rockies righty Bradley Blalock, going 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run.
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Reds' Will Benson: Records triple Saturday
Rotowire
Benson started in right field and went 1-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rockies.
Benson's triple drove in a run, and he then scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth of Cincinnati's walk-off win. He remained in the starting nine against a right-hander (Bradley Blalock), despite the return of Jake Fraley (shoulder), who was activated off the injured list Saturday. Fraley has traditionally started against righties when healthy, and he could eventually overtake Benson as the Reds' preferred option at the position.
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Reds' Will Benson: Homers again
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Marlins.
Benson went 23 games without a home run before launching a solo shot Saturday against the Phillies. He clubbed another round tripper Wednesday, his eighth of the season, to snap a 0-for-12 skid at the plate. In 160 plate appearances this season, Benson is slashing .224/.281/.434.
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Reds' Will Benson: Ends homer drought
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 5-1 loss to the Phillies.
He was given a rare start against a lefty, covering center field for a resting TJ Friedl. Benson gave the Reds a lead with a fifth-inning home run, his seventh of the season and first in 23 games. It's his only hit in 13 at-bats against a southpaw. Benson has largely struggled to produce since an explosive stretch in mid-May, but the bat is showing recent signs of life. He's hit safely in six of his last seven games (five starts), going 8-for-21 (.381) with one double, one homer and three RBI.
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Reds' Will Benson: On bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox are opening the game with a left-hander (Brennan Bernardino), so the left-handed-hitting Benson will give way to the right-handed-hitting Rece Hinds in right field. Righty Cooper Criswell is scheduled to pitch in bulk relief once Bernardino exits the contest, so it wouldn't be surprising if Benson subbed in for Hinds (or another Reds outfielder) at some point during the game.
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Reds' Will Benson: Plates game-winning run
Rotowire
Benson went 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Sunday's 3-2 victory over the Padres.
The Cincinnati outfielder ripped an RBI single off San Diego closer Robert Suarez in the ninth for the walk-off win. The single also allowed Benson to secure his first three-hit game since May 18 against Cleveland. Since that date, Benson had struggled to a .163/.240/.233 slash line across 100 plate appearances prior to this contest, so perhaps this performance can turn around his fortunes. The 27-year-old is on the strong side of a platoon in right field with Rece Hinds and is now slashing .233/.299/.433 across 137 total plate appearances.
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Reds' Will Benson: Getting day off vs. lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.
Benson and fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley will all hit the bench for the series finale while the Yankees send a southpaw (Max Fried) to the bump for the second straight day. Though Benson has been a fixture in the Cincinnati outfield against right-handed pitching for the past five weeks, his playing time could soon dry up with Austin Hays (foot) nearing a return from the injured list.
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Reds' Will Benson: Not in Monday's lineup
Rotowire
Benson is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Yankees.
The left-handed-hitting Benson had been in the lineup every time the Reds faced a righty since May 10, but he'll take a seat Monday as the Yankees send right-hander Allan Winans to the bump. Gavin Lux will play left field Monday.
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Reds' Will Benson: Logs two RBI in win
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI in Tuesday's 6-5 win over Minnesota.
Benson got the Reds started with a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning that erased the Twins' early advantage. He's been a sub-.200 hitter (10-for-59, .169) since a hot streak in the middle of May put him on the fantasy radar. Despite the downturn, Benson's managed to maintain a regular presence in the lineup against right-handers. That could change when Austin Hays (foot) is ready to return.
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Reds' Will Benson: Beginning Sunday's game on bench
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers.
The Tigers are deploying a lefty opener in Tyler Holton, but right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long is slated to work in bulk relief. Benson will begin the contest on the bench but could be a candidate to replace Connor Joe in left field once Gipson-Long takes the mound.
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Reds' Will Benson: Scores lone run in win
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 1-0 win over the Guardians.
Benson doubled in the fifth inning and came home one batter later for the lone offense in this pitchers' duel. He's found a home in left field, but that could end soon. Austin Hays (foot) ran the bases Tuesday as part of a test and could be activated in the coming days if he feels OK afterwards. Since homering five times in nine games upon his latest call-up to the big leagues, Benson's batted .173 (9-for-52) with one home run, five RBI and a .500 OPS over the last 18 contests.
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Reds' Will Benson: Idle versus lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians.
With lefty Logan Allen on the bump for Cleveland, Benson will take a seat for the series finale along with fellow left-handed hitters Gavin Lux and Jake Fraley. Benson had started each of the Reds' last four games, going 3-for-13 with a double, three walks, four runs and one RBI.
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Reds' Will Benson: Hits late homer in win
Rotowire
Benson went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's win over the Brewers.
Benson struck out in his first three at-bats but made up for it with a solo home run in the eighth to make it a 4-2 lead for the Reds. Benson's cooled off considerably since his mini outburst at the plate in mid-May during which he had five homers and 10 RBI in four games. Since May 21, he's hitting just .147/.205/.245 with a 30.8 percent strikeout rate.
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