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BEN BENGTSON, THIRD BASEMAN
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| Born: July 28, 1995 Height: 6′ 0″ Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right Drafted: 23rd Round, 688th Overall, 2017 How Acquired: Draft College: Hartford Agent: N/A |
WTM’s PLAYER PROFILE |
| Bengtson put up a 323/401/479 line in 167 at-bats, with five homers, in 2017. The power numbers were actually down a bit from 2016, when he had a 316/385/540 line in 187 at-bats, with six homers. He was a full-time shortstop with Hartford, and was the third of four college junior shortstops the Pirates drafted consecutively after the 20th round. Baseball America rated him as the 43rd best prospect out of New England in a three star class. Bengtson added some muscle prior to his sophomore year, and went from a speedy top of the order hitter to a guy with some power, who still had speed. He’s also seen as a good defender, capable of sticking on the left side of the infield, with plenty of arm strength. His college coach described him as a strong, physical, and “really toolsy” kid.
2017 Bengtson played exclusively at third for Bristol. He hit respectably, with decent power and good on-base skills, but he struck out a lot. 2018 Bentson opened the season at West Virginia. Initially he was a corner infield backup, but he ended up as the primary third baseman for a while after Dylan Busby got hurt. He didn’t hit well, with poor plate discipline, and in mid-August the Pirates sent him down to Morgantown. Bengtson probably will remain a corner infield backup somewhere in the lower levels, but he’ll miss over a month at the start of the season due to a separated shoulder and partially torn labrum. |
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CONTRACT INFORMATION
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| 2019: Minor league contract |
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PLAYER INFORMATION
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| Signing Bonus: MiLB Debut: 2017 MLB Debut: MiLB FA Eligible: 2023 MLB FA Eligible: Rule 5 Eligible: 2020 Added to 40-Man: Options Remaining: 3 MLB Service Time: 0.000 |
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TRANSACTIONS
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| June 14, 2017: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 23rd round, 688th overall pick; signed on June 21. |
