John Van Benschoten #47

John Wesley Van Benschoten (pronounced Van BEN-sko-tin)...Is a 1998 graduate of Milford (OH) High School...Played three years of baseball at Kent State University...Played first base and the outfield and was named a first-team Louisville Slugger All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper in 2001...Was also tabbed as the Mid-American Conference Player-of-the-Year and the MAC Tournament Most Valuable Player...Holds Kent State and Mid-American Conference single-season records for home runs (31), hits (99), RBI (84) walks (55) and total bases (221)...Ranked 8th in the nation in batting average (.440) and led the MAC with a .982 slugging percentage his senior year...Was ranked by Baseball America as Pittsburgh's No. 1 prospect prior to the 2003 and 2004 seasons..Was rated as the 2nd-best prospect in the organization by the same publication prior to the 2002 season and as the 3rdbest prospect prior to the 2005 campaign...Was inducted into Kent State's Hall of Fame in February 2008...Signed by Pirate scout Duane Gustavson.

2007

Began season with Triple-A Indianapolis and went 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA in first three starts...Allowed just three hits and no runs in a season-high 7.1 innings on 4/27 at Ottawa (no-decision)...Tossed 5.0 scoreless frames and won first game on 5/2 at Pawtucket...Pitched 7.0 scoreless innings and won next start on 5/7 vs. Syracuse...Won third straight start on 5/12 vs. Ottawa (7.0ip/1er)...Was named International League Pitcher-of-the-Week for week of 5/7-13 after going 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA (14.0ip) and seven strikeouts in two starts...Compiled a 20.1 scoreless innings streak from 4/27 thru 5/12...Won six of his seven decisions from 5/2 thru 6/3, suffering only loss on 5/17 at Syracuse...Had a 6-4 record and a 2.73 ERA when he was recalled by Pittsburgh on 6/15...Suffered loss in first start (5.2ip/2er) on 6/16 vs. Chicago (AL) - his first appearance in the major leagues since 9/18/04. ...Also lost his second start on 6/21 at Seattle...Received a no-decision on 6/27 at Florida (4.0ip/2r/1er)...Went 0-2 with a 3.92 ERA (20.2ip/9er) in his first four starts with the Pirates...Went 0-3 with a 27.00 ERA (7.0ip/21er) in next three starts while failing to pitch 3.0 innings in any outing...Gave up nine runs in 2.0+ip in 10-8 Bucco loss vs. Colorado on 7/16...Missed turn in rotation in mid-July to work on pitching mechanics...Threw 83 pitches during a bullpen session on 7/22...Returned to rotation on 7/27 at Philadelphia and gave up seven runs in 2.1 innings of work...Was optioned to Indianapolis on 7/28 and won three straight starts with the Indians from 8/1-12...Compiled a 15.0 scoreless innings streak from 8/1-7...Captured International League Pitcher-of-the- Week honors for a second time for week of 8/6-12...Lost back-to-back starts on 8/17 and 8/22...Tossed 7.0-inning shutout and picked up last Triple-A win on 8/27 vs. Columbus (game one)...Suffered loss in final start with Indy on 9/2 at Louisville...Ranked second on staff in victories behind Bryan Bullington's 11...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 9/4...Made first of two relief appearances on 9/6 at St. Louis and surrendered five runs in 1.1ip...Suffered 3-0 loss in start at San Diego on 9/17...Pitched 3.0 innings of relief and gave up two runs on 9/22 at Chicago...Made final outing as a starter vs. Arizona on 9/27 and suffered an 8-0 loss (2.0ip/4er)...Went 1-for-7 with two sacrifice bunts at the plate with the Pirates, doubling off San Diego's Jack Cassel for lone hit on 9/17.

2006

Threw off a mound during team's mini camp on 1/11; his first "action" since having right shoulder surgery on 1/27/05...Began regular season on Pittsburgh's 15-day disabled list...Made rehab start with GCL Pirates on 8/8 and took a no-hitter into the 6th inning before losing a 4-2 decision to the GCL?Red Sox...Made second rehab start with Double-A Altoona on 8/14 at Connecticut (game one) and won a 4-2 decision (5.0ip/3h/2r)...Was recalled from his rehab assignment, reinstated from the D.L. and optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on 8/18...Was victorious in first start with Indy on 8/19 vs. Richmond (6.0ip/2er)...Received a no-decision on 8/24 at Toledo (4.2ip/4er) and lost a 6-2 decision vs. Louisville on 9/2 (1.0ip/1er).

2005

Missed entire season recovering from surgery on right shoulder...Surgery, which included labrum repair, rotator cuff debridement and thermal shrinkage, was performed by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, AL on 1/27...Had revision procedure performed on left shoulder in July.

2004

Spent majority of the season with Nashville (AAA)...Went 0-6 with a 6.64 ERA (40.2ip/30er) in eight starts on the road and 4-5 with a 3.86 ERA (91.0ip/39er) in 15 starts at home...Made Triple-A debut on 4/10 vs. Colorado Springs and received a no-decision (6.2ip/2er)...Went 0-6 with a 5.07 ERA (49.2ip/19er) in first nine starts...Did not receive more than three runs of support in any of his first 10 starts...Surrendered season-high nine runs in 2.2 innings of work on 4/15 @Albuquerque...Struck out season-high 10 batters on 5/17 vs. Portland...Snapped six-game losing streak with first win on 5/28 vs. Colorado Springs...Won three straight starts from 5/28 thru 6/15 (game two)...Missed two starts in early June due to minor irritation in the left shoulder...Went 0-3 in eight starts from 6/20 thru 7/27...Allowed just one run in 7.0 innings of work, but lost a 3-0 decision on 7/1 vs. New Orleans...Homered off Danny Haren in his start on 7/6 @Memphis...Hit safely in four straight starts from 7/6 thru 8/7...Lasted just 3.2 innings in start on 7/11 vs. Omaha and 4.0 innings on 7/17 @Omaha...Snapped three-game losing streak with victory on 8/1 vs. Edmonton...Lost final two starts with the Sounds on 8/7 and 8/13...Was recalled by Pittsburgh on 8/18 and made major league debut that night in start @Arizona (L, 6.0ip/7h/6r/6er/1bb/4so)...Struck out first big-league batter he faced (Quinton McCracken) and allowed just one run in 4.0 innings before being tagged for four runs in the 5th...Was optioned back to Nashville on 8/19, but returned to the Pirates when Kip Wells went on the D.L. on 8/23...Allowed one unearned run in 7.0 innings of work in second start, but received a no-decision on 8/23 vs. Arizona...Homered off Arizona's Casey Fossum for first major league hit on 8/23 @PNC Park. ...Dropped record to 0-2 after losing a 4-2 decision to Milwaukee's Matt Wise on 8/31...Made first professional relief appearance and lost third straight decision while being roughed up for six runs (four earned) in 2.1 innings of work on 9/5 @Houston (Kip Wells left the game with tightness in his right elbow after recording one out)...Earned first big-league win on 9/10 vs. Houston after holding the Astros to one run over 8.0 innings of work...Tied a club record after issuing four straight walks (also Jim Bibby on May 25, 1983 vs. Atlanta) in final and shortest start (0.1ip/2h/6r/6er/4bb/1so) on 9/18 vs. New York (NL)...Did not pitch for the remainder of the season due to stiffness in his right shoulder...Allowed a total of 11 first inning runs while pitching with Pittsburgh...The Pirates went 1-4 in his five starts...Went 1-for-8 with a home run and two RBI at the plate with the Bucs...Had reconstructive surgery performed on left shoulder in October.

2003

Split season between Lynchburg (A) and Altoona (AA) and combined to go 13-6 with a 3.17 ERA (139.0ip/49er) in 26 starts with the two clubs...Participated in the All-Star Futures Game in Chicago (AL) as part of Major League Baseball's All-Star week. ...Ranked third in the organization in strikeouts (127) and tied for third in wins and starts...Began season with Lynchburg and was undefeated in nine starts...Tossed 5.0 shutout innings in his season debut on 4/4 @Frederick...Allowed just three runs (two earned) in his first five starts, going 3-0 with a 0.69 ERA (26.0ip)...Struck out 10 batters in a no-decision @Myrtle Beach on 4/22...Did not allow a home run until his final start with the Hillcats on 5/20...Posted a 1.21 ERA on the road and held Carolina League hitters to a .192 clip...Was promoted to Altoona on 5/22...Allowed eight hits and two runs in his first Double-A start on 5/25 vs. Binghamton (4.0ip)...Earned his first victory with the Curve in fourth start on 6/11 @New Britain (6.0ip/0er)...Posted a 2.08 ERA (26.0ip/6er) in his first five starts...Won five straight decisions from 6/11 to 7/24, improving his overall season record to 11-0...Won his start on 7/8 vs. Norwich (7.0ip/1er) and went 2-for-3 with two doubles at the plate...Tossed a scoreless frame with one strikeout in the All-Star Futures Game on 7/13 @Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field...Also induced fellow Pirate minor leaguer Jose Castillo to ground out during his 1.0-inning stint...Suffered first loss on 7/24 vs. New Haven, his first defeat in 27 starts dating back to 7/7/02 (15 straight wins)...Dropped five consecutive starts from 7/24 to 8/15 while recording a 6.12 ERA (25.0ip/17er)...Tossed his first career complete game (7.0ip) on 8/25 vs. Reading (game one)...Lost his only post-season appearance on 9/5 vs. Akron in the Eastern League Divisional Series (0.2ip/6h/6er)...Went 4-for-12 (.333) with two doubles and an RBI at the plate...Was named to the 2003 Olympic Qualifying Team and went 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA (10.0ip/2er) in three relief appearances...Listed by Baseball America as the No. 10 prospect in the Eastern League and the No. 4 prospect in the Carolina League following the season.

2002

Spent first full professional season with Hickory (A), the South Atlantic League champions...Tied for 10th in the league in ERA...Finished second among Pirate farmhands in strikeouts, tied for second in starts, placed third in winning percentage (.733) and fourth in ERA...Was charged with just one earned run in his first three starts (13.2ip - 0.66 ERA) and did not surrender a home run in his first six starts (30.1ip)...Went 4-1 with a 2.75 ERA (39.1ip/12er) in six starts from 5/30 thru 6/27...Tossed a season-high 8.0 innings on two occasions (6/5 vs. Augusta and 6/22 @Lexington)...Whiffed a season-high 10 batters while tossing 7.0 scoreless frames on 7/13 @Kannapolis...Did not give up an earned run in a four-start stretch from 7/13 to 8/5 (24.0ip)...Went 4-0 with a 1.26 ERA (43.0ip/6er) in his last eight starts (also held the opposition without a homer during that span)...Won eight of his last 10 decisions...Held opponents to a .219 average...Was rated by Baseball America as the second-best prospect in the South Atlantic League and the league's best pitching prospect following the season.

2001

Made professional debut with Williamsport (A) after being selected by Pittsburgh in the first round (8th pick overall) of the June draft...Helped Crosscutters earn a share of the New York-Penn League crown...Appeared as a designated hitter in his first pro game and went 1-for-1 with a run scored on 7/9 vs. Auburn...Went 3-for-4 with a double on 7/15 vs. Mahoning Valley...Knocked in his first run on 7/16 vs. Mahoning Valley...Was used as a DH nine times and as a pinch hitter once before taking the mound for the first time on 7/24 vs. New Jersey (allowed one run and two hits in 1.0ip)...Posted a 1.54 ERA (11.2ip/2er) in his first five starts...Suffered his first pro loss on 8/5 vs. Jamestown...Went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI on 8/14 vs. Batavia. ...Tossed season-high 6.0 shutout innings in a no-decision on 8/28 vs. Batavia...Suffered loss in final start on 9/2 @Utica (1.0ip/4er). ...Went 17-for-73 (.233) with five doubles and eight RBI in 21 games as a designated hitter (also swiped three bases)...Went hitless in two at bats as a pinch hitter (struck out both times).