Andrew Benintendi, the 2015 Golden Spikes Award winner and Boston's first-round choice in this year's draft, has signed his first contract with the Red Sox.
The club also announced the signings of third-rounder Austin Rei from Washington, Andrew Noviello of Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, Bobby Poyner and Tyler Spoon.
Benintendi was recently named winner of both the 2015 Golden Spikes Award, recognizing the top amateur baseball player in the country, and the 2015 Dick Howser Trophy, given annually to the most outstanding collegiate baseball player. The left-handed batter hit .376 (85-for-226) with 13 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, 57 RBI, and 62 runs scored in 65 games for the Razorbacks as a sophomore this season. At 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, he drew 50 walks for a .488 on-base percentage and stole 24 bases in 28 attempts.
He led NCAA Division I players in home runs and ranked third with a .717 slugging percentage in 2015. Rated by Baseball America as the best collegiate pure hitter available in this year's draft, he was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year after leading the conference in batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, home runs, and walks. Benintendi also became the first player in Arkansas team history to be named National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball. He has helped the Razorbacks to a 40-23 record this season and a berth in the College World Series.
Rei was selected 81st overall out of the University of Washington. As a junior, he was limited to 25 games this season due to a left thumb injury suffered in February, but led the team in batting average (.330), slugging percentage (.681), on-base percentage (.445), and OPS (1.127). He reached base safely in all but one game and, despite missing time, ranked second on the Huskies with both seven homers and 20 RBI. Baseball America rated him among the top three collegiate-level defensive players available in the draft.
Information provided by the Red Sox was used in this report.
Cox Media Group
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