Attended the Westminster Schools in Atlanta, where as a senior in 2016 he hit .454 with 11 doubles, eight HR, 41 RBI and a 1.380 OPS...That season he was named a Rawlings Perfect Game All-American...In 2015, played in the USA Baseball Tournament of Stars summer showcase, the Under Armour All-American Game at Wrigley Field and the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup in Nishinomiya, Japan, as a member of the USA 18U National Team...Before he signed with Cleveland, had signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Duke...Gordan Beckham also attended Westminster Schools...His father, Ted, played basketball at Purdue.
2024
On April 14 at CWS, recorded his 100th career hit, a third-inning single off Michael Soroka...Also drew a career-high four walks in the 11-4 win...Was the first Red with four or more walks and two or more steals in a game since Barry Larkin (four BB, two SB) on April 1, 1997 vs. COL...On May 16 at LAD, hit the first leadoff homer of his Major League career (off Tyler Glasnow)...The HR traveled 439 feet, making it the longest homer of his career and third-longest leadoff HR by a Red in the Statcast era (since 2015), trailing only Tyler Naquin on April 6, 2021 vs. PIT (454 ft.) and Zack Cozart on May 30, 2016 at COL (444 ft.)...On July 9 vs. COL, committed his first error in 177 games with Cincinnati (first since Aug. 20, 2022 for CLE vs. CWS)...That was the longest run by a position player to begin a stint with the Reds since 1900...Snapped his 189 errorless game streak (began on Aug. 24, 2022 for CLE at SD)...From Aug. 4-6, was on the paternity list for the birth of his daughter, Sofia Marie...Made 36 starts in LF, 34 in RF and 32 in CF...Became the first Red since 1900 to make at least 30 starts at each outfield position in a campaign...Was the only Major Leaguer to accomplish this feat during the 2024 season.
2023
With eight triples tied TJ Friedl for the team lead, tied for third-most in the National League and tied for fifth-most in the Major Leagues...Friedl & Benson became the first set of Reds teammates to record at least eight triples in the same season since Ken Griffey Sr. (10) & Dave Concepcion (8) did it in 1980...Went 1-for-25 in his first 10 appearances covering two stints with Reds (3/30-4/12, 5/20-5/22)...In his last 98 appearances of the season after he rejoined the team on 5/26 hit .298 (78-262, 15 2b, 8 3b, 11hr, 31rbi, 19sb, .389obp, .542slg, .931ops)…Made 45 starts in RF, 37 starts in LF, 1 start in CF (6/4 vs Mil) and three starts at DH (7/7 at Mil, 7/15 vs Mil, 7/28 at LAD)…Led the team in starts in both RF (45) and LF (37gs)…Was the Reds' Opening Day starter in LF...Became only the 12th Reds batter since 1900, and the first since Jesse Winker in 2018, to produce in a season a walk-off HR, pinch-hit HR and grand slam...was only one of two Major League players to do it in 2023, joining SF's J.D. Davis...In the ninth inning of the 8-6 win on 6/7 vs LAD produced his first Major League homer (two-run walk-off, Evan Phillips)…was the first walk-off HR by a Reds LH batter since Jesse Winker on 6/7/18 vs Col (off Chris Rusin)…In the ninth inning on 6/24 vs Atl produced his first career pinch-hit HR (solo off Raisel Iglesias)…On 8/25 at AZ produced his first Major League grand slam (off Justin Martinez)…With his solo HR off Colin Rea on 7/8 at Mil, Reds batters established a new single-season franchise record by hitting at least one home run in 22 consecutive games...the 1956 Reds held the record with a home run in 21 straight games. With a leaping catch into the wall in the top of the fourth inning on 4/4 vs Cubs produced MLB's Electric Play of the Week...became the second Reds player to win the award (Yasiel Puig, 5/19/19 vs LAD)…In the eighth inning of the 19-2 win on 9/29 at StL was ejected by HP umpire Phil Cuzzi following a strikeout looking...was Benson's first career ejection...Before his 5/26 promotion, produced a 17-game on-base streak at Louisville...In spring training led the Reds in stolen bases (6)…tied for the team lead in hits...hit safely in 13 of his 17 appearances.
2022
Was a non-roster invitee to the Indians’ Major League spring training camp...Spent most of the season at Class AAA Columbus...Was International League Player of the Month for July (23g, .371, 8 2b, 2 3b, 5hr, 11rbi, 3sb, 1.155 OPS)...When promoted to the Guardians on 8/1 was leading the International League in on-base percentage, walks and runs scored, was tied for the IL lead in OPS and ranked fourth in both extra-base hits and total bases...Made his Major League debut in an 11-inning, 6-5 walk-off win on 8/1 vs the Diamondbacks...with two outs in the bottom of the 10th pinch hit against Mark Melancon and grounded out...began the 11th as the runner on second base and scored the winning run on Amed Rosario’s 1-out, RBI-single...Collected his first career hit and RBI on 8/10 at Det, his seventh appearance...in the second inning of the 3-2 win produced a run scoring-single off Victor Reyes.
2021
Split the season between AA Akron and AAA Columbus, leading the organization in walks and ranking fourth in home runs (17) and runs scored (70)...Also tied for a system-high six triples... Combined on the year, he batted .206 (73-for-355) with 18 2B, 6 3B, 17 HR, 51 RBI and 14 SB (.349/.434/.782)... Best month in Akron was July, batting .250 (22-for-88) with 5 2B, 7 HR, 11 RBI and a .911 OPS in 25 games (21 runs)... Was tied for second in the Double-A Northeast League in runs in July... Promoted to AAA Columbus on August 20...At the time of his promotion he was second in the AA NE League in walks (60) and triples (T2nd, 5), third in runs (63) and seventh in on-base percentage (.374)... Spent the remainder of the season with the Clippers... Split time between all three outfield positions, making 31 starts apiece in LF, CF and RF... Was a member of the Minor League Depth Camp during ML Spring Training, appearing in 19 Cactus League exhibition games and homered on March 9 at Texas... Has never been on IL in pro career...Named as best athlete in the system by Baseball America.
2020
Spent season on co-op in Constellation Energy League, appearing in 24 games (also pitched two games).
2019
Led Lake County in home runs (18), 2nd on the team in runs batted in (55), and 3rd in extra-base hits (33)…Named MiLB.com Organizational All-Star.
2018
Voted Best Athlete in Cleveland Farm System by Baseball America entering 2019 season…Named Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star…Led the Midwest League in home runs (22), finished 3rd in walks (82) and tied for 9th in games played (123)…Led Lake County in home runs (22), RBI (58), walks (82), games played (123) and runs (54).
2017
Tied for New York-Penn League lead with 10 home runs...Also led league in HR/AB ratio (1/20.20) and ranked 3rd in RBI (36)…Named Best Athlete in CLE organization entering 2018 by BA.
