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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Moves to left field
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in Friday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.
Benson, who had been playing right field for an injured Jake Fraley, maintained a lineup presence with Fraley's return Friday. A convenient opening in left field occurred when the Reds placed Austin Hays (foot) on the 10-day injured list. Benson has cooled off since he homered five times in four games in the middle of the month, going 3-for-21 with two walks, three RBI and two runs over his last seven games.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Back in lineup
Rotowire
Benson started in right field and went 0-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Cubs.
Benson was back in the lineup against a right-handed starter, after he was held out against southpaws the prior three games. Benson made an impact immediately after his call-up from Triple-A Louisville with five home runs, three doubles, 11 RBI, one steal and seven runs scored over his first 10 games. Since then, he's gone 0-for-5 over seven plate appearances. Jake Fraley (calf) has started a rehab assignment, so Benson's run as the primary right fielder against right-handed pitching may end soon.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: On bench versus lefty
Rotowire
Benson is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates.
The 26-year-old has gone 12-for-34 with five homers in 10 games since being called up by Cincinnati on May 9, but he'll sit Tuesday against Pittsburgh lefty Bailey Falter. Benson should continue to see plenty of at-bats while filling the strong side of a platoon in right field with Jake Fraley (calf) sidelined.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Rips two more homers
Rotowire
Benson went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 3-1 win over Cleveland.
Benson stayed red hot Sunday and provided all of the Reds' offensive production in the victory. He's now gone deep five times over his past four games and is batting .423 with seven extra-base hits and 11 RBI since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville on May 9. The 26-year-old should continue to hold down a strong-side platoon role until Jake Fraley (calf) returns from the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Three RBI in win
Rotowire
Benson went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a two-RBI single during Thursday's 7-1 win over the White Sox.
Benson has bounced back and forth between the MLB and Triple-A this season, but he's seen extended action recently as TJ Friedl (wrist) and Jake Fraley (calf) tend to injuries. Thursday's contest marked Benson's first big-league homer and first multi-hit game of the 2025 campaign. Since being called up Friday, Benson has gone 5-for-14 (.357) with three extra-base hits at the plate.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Starts in center field
Rotowire
Benson started in center field and went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double in Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the White Sox.
Benson started in place of the injured TJ Friedl, who was held out of the lineup with a wrist injury. Benson had been filling in for the injured Jake Fraley (calf) in right field and is 3-for-11 with two doubles, a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored over four games since returning to the majors. Assuming Friedl avoids joining Fraley on the injured list, Benson should soon shift back over to right field, where he'll likely occupy the strong side of a platoon with either Connor Joe or Rece Hinds.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: In lineup again
Rotowire
Benson started in right field and went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Astros.
Benson made a second consecutive start in right field since being called up at the end of last week. The lefty-hitting outfielder is filling in for the injured Jake Fraley (calf) but may be limited to starting against right-handers. Benson is 1-for-7 with a double and an RBI during his second stint this season in the majors.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Back to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Reds optioned Benson to Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News reports.
Benson was recalled by the Reds on Tuesday and started in left field against the Giants on Wednesday, when he struck out in all four at-bats. Benson will return to Triple-A as Cincinnati activates Andrew Abbott (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list in a corresponding move.
... See More... See Less
Reds' Will Benson: Makes first start after call-up
Rotowire
Benson started in left field and went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 8-6 loss to San Francisco.
Benson struck out swinging four times -- three whiffs and one foul tip -- in his season debut after being called up from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He swung the bat well for the Bats, but Wednesday's effort was reminder of his struggles in 2024, when Benson struck out 39.7 percent of the time against major-league pitching.
