Red Sox left-hander Jorge Benitez impressing skipper Alex Cora in camp
This past winter the Red Sox signed left-handed pitcher Jorge Benitez to a minor league deal. The move was a classic depth signing to hopefully impact the Red Sox upper minor league system in 2024.
Benitez enters spring training with the Red Sox and is already impressing Alex Cora.
“Benitez, the lefty, he’s got good (expletive),” Cora said to reporters at JetBlue Park on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old compiled a 2.14 ERA in 59 innings pitched with 74 strikeouts with the Double-A Arkansas Travelers (Mariners affiliate).
Overall last season, the southpaw pitched in 45 games, posting a 2-5 record with a 1.95 ERA, 82 strike outs and 1.33 WHIP over 64 2/3 innings. Benitez had seven holds, while covering one save in five opportunities. His command was an issue at times with a 5.95 BB/9.
“This is a guy who has been on our radar for a while,” Cora said. “He’s been really good with Seattle (in the minors). He was out there in the Rule 5 two years ago and nobody picked him up. But if you look at the numbers that matter, he was dominant. And last year he did a good job.”
The 6-foot-2 lefty throws from a low arm slot and features a fastball that sits between 90-93 mph. He’s shown that he can get sink on his heater and can get swing and misses when he goes up and in on right-handed hitters.
Benitez was selected to play in the Arizona Fall League last offseason after a strong season. He split time between Low-A Modest and High-A Everett, going 5–3 with 14 saves and a 2.96 ERA (16 ER, 48.2 IP) in 36 relief appearances.
Benitez has not pitched above the Double-A level but impressing his skipper will go a long way to possibly propelling him to Triple-A Worcester at some point in 2024.
