Wes Benjamin

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Wes Benjamin
Benjamin with the KT Wiz in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 31)
Winfield, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: August 16, 2020, for the Texas Rangers
KBO: June 9, 2022, for the KT Wiz
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record2–3
Earned run average6.80
Strikeouts40
KBO statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record31-18
Earned run average3.74
Strikeouts390
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Wesley Scott Benjamin (born July 26, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and in the KBO League for the KT Wiz.

Amateur career

Benjamin attended St. Charles East High School in St. Charles, Illinois.[1] He played college baseball for the University of Kansas Jayhawks.[2] Benjamin underwent Tommy John surgery on April 10, 2014.[3] After his junior year of college, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round, 156th overall, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4]

Professional career

Texas Rangers

Benjamin made his professional debut with the Arizona League Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2015, appearing in one game for them.[5] He spent the 2016 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, going 6–5 with a 3.79 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 102 innings.[6] He spent the 2017 season with the Down East Wood Ducks of the High–A Carolina League, going 10–7 with a 3.94 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 118+2⁄3 innings pitched.[7] Benjamin split the 2018 season between the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League and the AZL Rangers, going a combined 5–6 with a 3.32 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 86+2⁄3 innings.[5] He spent the 2019 season with the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, going 7–6 with a 5.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 135+1⁄3 innings.[8]

Benjamin was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 11, 2020.[9] He made his major league debut on August 16 against the Colorado Rockies.[10] With the Rangers in 2020, Benjamin went 2–1 with a 4.84 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 22+1⁄3 innings.[11]

With the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West in 2021, Benjamin went 2–5 with a 8.29 ERA.[5] With Texas in 2021, Benjamin went 0–2 with a 8.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 22+2⁄3 innings.[12] On October 3, 2021, Benjamin was designated for assignment.[13] On October 6, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Round Rock.[14]

Chicago White Sox

On February 21, 2022, Benjamin signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[15] He made 7 starts for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, going 2–0 with a 3.82 ERA in 30+2⁄3 innings. On May 17, 2022, Benjamin requested and was granted his release in order to pursue an opportunity in Asia.[16]

KT Wiz

On May 18, 2022, Benjamin signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League.[17] For KT in 2022, he posted a 5–4 record with a 2.70 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 96+2⁄3 innings.

On December 9, 2022, Benjamin re-signed with KT for the 2023 season on a $1.3 million contract.[18] In 29 starts for the Wiz, he registered a 15–6 record and 3.54 ERA with 157 strikeouts across 160.0 innings of work.

On December 12, 2023, Benjamin once more re–signed with the team on a one–year, $1.4 million contract.[19] In 30 starts, he went 11–8 with a 4.63 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 149+2⁄3 innings. On November 30, 2024, the Wiz non–tendered Benjamin, making him a free agent.[20]

References

  1. ^ Jason Addy (September 25, 2020). "St. Charles East Grad Makes 1st MLB Start For Texas Rangers". Patch ~ St. Charles, IL. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Max Blen (September 2, 2020). "Former KU pitcher Wes Benjamin makes MLB debut for Texas Rangers". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Rustin Dodd (June 6, 2014). "KU left-hander Wes Benjamin drafted in fifth round by Texas". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Jacob Bartelson (August 12, 2020). "Former St. Charles East star Wes Benjamin gets the call from Texas Rangers". Kane County Chronicle. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Wes Benjamin Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Craig Brueske (August 12, 2016). "Patience a virtue for St. Charles East grad Benjamin". Daily Herald. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Dominic Cotroneo (August 21, 2017). "Wes Benjamin Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Paul Johnson (April 9, 2020). "I'm on the cusp': St. Charles East graduate Wes Benjamin working hard to earn call-up from Texas Rangers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  9. ^ John Blake (August 11, 2020). "Rangers add INF Derek Dietrich and LHP Wes Benjamin to active roster; option RHP Jimmy Herget and INF Anderson Tejeda". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Paul Johnson (August 20, 2020). "Sunday debut for Texas Rangers more than worth the wait for St. Charles East grad Wes Benjamin: 'Patience has been the epitome of my career.'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  11. ^ T.R. Sullivan (September 23, 2020). "An eye toward '21, Benjamin solid in 1st start". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Weaver, Levi (October 4, 2021). "Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Pitchers edition". The Athletic. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Rangers' Wes Benjamin: DFA'd Sunday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Morris, Adam J. (October 6, 2021). "Texas Rangers claim Edwar Colina, outright Wes Benjamin". Lone Star Ball (SB Nation). Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Franco, Anthony (February 25, 2021). "White Sox Agree To Minors Deals With Wes Benjamin, Patrick Kivlehan". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Wes Benjamin Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Defending KBO champions KT Wiz release pitcher Cuevas, sign ex-MLB lefty Benjamin". Yonhap News Agency. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "'대체 선수' 벤자민·알포드, 내년에도 KT와 함께 한다 [오피셜]". MSN (in Korean). Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "KT Wiz re-sign pitcher Wes Benjamin". The Korea Times. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (November 30, 2024). "Korean Series champions Tigers part ways with pitcher Lauer; Wiz to replace lefty Benjamin". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
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