Pittsburgh Pirates Draft Profile: Part 1

William Benson – Center Field, The Westminster Schools (GA)

If someone finds the upside of Kirilloff too good to pass up before the Pirates get their turn, they will have plenty of options available to them. According to MLB’s top 100 draft prospects, there should be plenty of pitching options available both at the college and prep levels, but there should still be plenty of high upside pitching prospects available for the Pirates second and third picks in the draft. Plus, when a prospect has the name Jason Heyward connected to him as a comparison, general manager’s ears perk up across the board, and that’s exactly what happened with William Benson.

In the summer of 2015, Benson played for the team USA 18U team, which won its third straight world championship with an 8-1 record in the world cup and 2-1 victory over Japan to capture the gold medal. Benson was one of just 20 players who made the roster. The USA 18U alumni include a long list of All-Stars, Gold Glove award winners, and World Series champions. Benson is projected to be one of the next on the list.

On and off the field, Benson is highly respected by those around him. He is an honors student at one of the best secondary institutions in the country. His coach Russell Wrenn took the time to provide me, and consequently you, with further insight into the type of man he is outside of baseball. Speaking to how much Benson goes out of his way to help others, Wrenn said, “He spent 45 minutes last week addressing all the boys in the middle school. After the assembly, during which he mentioned that math was his favorite subject, an 8th grade boy emailed him to ask if Will could help tutor him in math. We were playing a playoff doubleheader that Friday afternoon. Will emailed back on Saturday and agreed to tutor the young man.”

Benson has been equally exceptional on the field. At 6’6” and 220 lbs., he has a frame that compares to Heyward, and the comparison only helped fuel his climb up the draft boards in 2015. However, whether it was his comparison to a player who has dramatically underperformed after signing a $184 million contract this offseason or media fatigue of constantly discussing an outstanding athlete and person is uncertain. In either case, Benson has dropped to 34th according to MLB.com’s prospect rankings.

[pullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“At the plate, Will has tremendous power from the left side.” – The Westminster Schools baseball coach Russell Wrenn[/pullquote]

While not as smooth in the leg motion on his swing as Kirilloff, Benson has an equally efficient swing with little wasted motion in his upper body and hands. He has been regarded as shortening his swing too often, but that could simply be an adjustment made facing elite level pitching until he achieves greater comfort. It’s not a problem that can’t be adjusted, nor is it a problem that will dramatically impact his ability to keep the barrel in the zone and drive the ball to all fields. If there is one flaw, he varies slightly on contact with the ball, sometimes slightly on top of the ball, sometimes under the ball. Regardless, Wrenn states, “At the plate, Will has tremendous power from the left side.”

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Will has a tremendous work ethic. As a coaching staff, we often have to kick Will out of the batting cages before/after practice. He wears out the tee.” – Russell Wrenn[/pullquote]

In the field, Benson shows off the athletic skills which make him a two-sport standout in basketball and baseball. He has a solid understanding of his own limitations on range. His bat should play at the major league level, but it will be his defense that could carry him to a future as an everyday player. Speaking to his defensive ability, Wrenn described, “As a player, scouts love Will’s tools. He runs a 6.5 60, which is hard to fathom for someone his size. He leads our team in stolen bases. He throws very well from the OF, too. He has played CF for us the last two years, but throws well enough to play RF at the next level.”

Conclusion: “Will has a tremendous work ethic. As a coaching staff, we often have to kick Will out of the batting cages before/after practice. He wears out the tee,” Wrenn wrote. Not only does Benson have natural talent, but he also has the work ethic to help him continue to grow and the humility and selflessness necessary to make an impact in the surrounding community for whatever organization drafts him. He has been extensively scouted by most teams, including the Pirates. If there was ever a rock and a hard place to be stuck between, it would be picking between these elite athletes and highly regarded young men. If the Pirates should take Kirilloff with the 22nd and almost impossibly find Benson on the board when they pick again, they should double down in a similar manner to how they took Kevin Newman and Kevin Kramer last year by taking Benson with the 41st pick. Benson has committed to Duke University.

Let us know in the comments who you think the Pittsburgh Pirates should draft with the 22nd pick.

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