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Wes Benjamin

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Wes Benjamin
Benjamin with the KT Wiz in 2022
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1993-07-26) July 26, 1993 (age 31)
Winfield, Illinois, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Professional debut
MLB: August 16, 2020, for the Texas Rangers
KBO: June 9, 2022, for the KT Wiz
MLB statistics
(through 2021 season)
Win–loss record2–3
Earned run average6.80
Strikeouts40
KBO statistics
(through 2024 season)
Win–loss record31-18
Earned run average3.74
Strikeouts390
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Wesley Scott Benjamin (born July 26, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers and in the KBO League for the KT Wiz.

Amateur career

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Benjamin attended St. Charles East High School in St. Charles, Illinois.[1] He played college baseball for the University of Kansas Jayhawks.[2] Benjamin underwent Tommy John surgery on April 10, 2014.[3] After his junior year of college, he was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the fifth round, 156th overall, of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[3][4]

Professional career

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Texas Rangers

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Benjamin made his professional debut with the Arizona League Rangers of the Rookie-level Arizona League in 2015, appearing in one game for them.[5] He spent the 2016 season with the Hickory Crawdads of the Single–A South Atlantic League, going 6–5 with a 3.79 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 102 innings.[6] He spent the 2017 season with the Down East Wood Ducks of the High–A Carolina League, going 10–7 with a 3.94 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 118+2⁄3 innings pitched.[7] Benjamin split the 2018 season between the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League and the AZL Rangers, going a combined 5–6 with a 3.32 ERA and 81 strikeouts over 86+2⁄3 innings.[5] He spent the 2019 season with the Nashville Sounds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, going 7–6 with a 5.52 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 135+1⁄3 innings.[8]

Benjamin was called up to the major leagues for the first time on August 11, 2020.[9] He made his major league debut on August 16 against the Colorado Rockies.[10] With the Rangers in 2020, Benjamin went 2–1 with a 4.84 ERA and 21 strikeouts over 22+1⁄3 innings.[11]

With the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A West in 2021, Benjamin went 2–5 with a 8.29 ERA.[5] With Texas in 2021, Benjamin went 0–2 with a 8.74 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 22+2⁄3 innings.[12] On October 3, 2021, Benjamin was designated for assignment.[13] On October 6, he cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple–A Round Rock.[14]

Chicago White Sox

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On February 21, 2022, Benjamin signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[15] He made 7 starts for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, going 2–0 with a 3.82 ERA in 30+2⁄3 innings. On May 17, 2022, Benjamin requested and was granted his release in order to pursue an opportunity in Asia.[16]

KT Wiz

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On May 18, 2022, Benjamin signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League.[17] For KT in 2022, he posted a 5–4 record with a 2.70 ERA and 77 strikeouts over 96+2⁄3 innings.

On December 9, 2022, Benjamin re-signed with KT for the 2023 season on a $1.3 million contract.[18] In 29 starts for the Wiz, he registered a 15–6 record and 3.54 ERA with 157 strikeouts across 160.0 innings of work.

On December 12, 2023, Benjamin once more re–signed with the team on a one–year, $1.4 million contract.[19] In 30 starts, he went 11–8 with a 4.63 ERA and 156 strikeouts over 149+2⁄3 innings. On November 30, 2024, the Wiz non–tendered Benjamin, making him a free agent.[20]

References

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  1. ^ Jason Addy (September 25, 2020). "St. Charles East Grad Makes 1st MLB Start For Texas Rangers". Patch ~ St. Charles, IL. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  2. ^ Max Blen (September 2, 2020). "Former KU pitcher Wes Benjamin makes MLB debut for Texas Rangers". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Rustin Dodd (June 6, 2014). "KU left-hander Wes Benjamin drafted in fifth round by Texas". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  4. ^ Jacob Bartelson (August 12, 2020). "Former St. Charles East star Wes Benjamin gets the call from Texas Rangers". Kane County Chronicle. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Wes Benjamin Player Page". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Craig Brueske (August 12, 2016). "Patience a virtue for St. Charles East grad Benjamin". Daily Herald. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  7. ^ Dominic Cotroneo (August 21, 2017). "Wes Benjamin Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Week". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  8. ^ Paul Johnson (April 9, 2020). "I'm on the cusp': St. Charles East graduate Wes Benjamin working hard to earn call-up from Texas Rangers". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  9. ^ John Blake (August 11, 2020). "Rangers add INF Derek Dietrich and LHP Wes Benjamin to active roster; option RHP Jimmy Herget and INF Anderson Tejeda". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  10. ^ Paul Johnson (August 20, 2020). "Sunday debut for Texas Rangers more than worth the wait for St. Charles East grad Wes Benjamin: 'Patience has been the epitome of my career.'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  11. ^ T.R. Sullivan (September 23, 2020). "An eye toward '21, Benjamin solid in 1st start". MLB.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Weaver, Levi (October 4, 2021). "Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Pitchers edition". The Athletic. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "Rangers' Wes Benjamin: DFA'd Sunday". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  14. ^ Morris, Adam J. (October 6, 2021). "Texas Rangers claim Edwar Colina, outright Wes Benjamin". Lone Star Ball (SB Nation). Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  15. ^ Franco, Anthony (February 25, 2021). "White Sox Agree To Minors Deals With Wes Benjamin, Patrick Kivlehan". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  16. ^ "Wes Benjamin Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  17. ^ "Defending KBO champions KT Wiz release pitcher Cuevas, sign ex-MLB lefty Benjamin". Yonhap News Agency. May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  18. ^ "'대체 선수' 벤자민·알포드, 내년에도 KT와 함께 한다 [오피셜]". MSN (in Korean). Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "KT Wiz re-sign pitcher Wes Benjamin". The Korea Times. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  20. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (November 30, 2024). "Korean Series champions Tigers part ways with pitcher Lauer; Wiz to replace lefty Benjamin". Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved December 1, 2024.
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