Andrew Benintendi
A sweet-swinging lefty who quickly blossomed into a World Series champion and a coveted, contact-first outfielder.
Born 1994 (age 32)·American baseball player·Birthday: July 6·Millennials
Biography
Andrew Benintendi's rise to the major leagues felt almost preordained. A standout at the University of Arkansas, he won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation's top amateur player, showcasing a polished, all-fields hitting approach that seemed big-league ready. The Boston Red Sox selected him seventh overall in 2015, and he raced through their farm system, making his debut barely a year later. In Boston, his smooth swing and instinctive outfield play made him an immediate fan favorite. His defining moment came in the 2018 American League Championship Series, with a breathtaking diving catch in left field that saved the game and helped propel the Red Sox to a World Series title. Traded to Kansas City, he evolved into a more complete player, winning a Gold Glove in 2021. Now with the Chicago White Sox, Benintendi represents a classic breed of player: a high-average hitter with defensive grace, whose value lies not in overwhelming power but in consistent, fundamental excellence.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andrew was born in 1994, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1994
#1 Movie
The Lion King
Best Picture
Forrest Gump
#1 TV Show
Seinfeld
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1994Born
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1999Started school
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2007Became a teenager
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Could drive
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2012Could vote
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2015Turned 21
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2024Turned 30
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 32 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a World Series championship with the Boston Red Sox in 2018.
- Won the American League Gold Glove Award for left field in 2021 with the Kansas City Royals.
- Won the Golden Spikes Award in 2015 as the top amateur baseball player in the United States.
- Finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017.
Did You Know?
He hit a home run in his first professional at-bat for the Lowell Spinners in 2015.
He and fellow MLB player Michael Conforto were college roommates at the University of Arkansas.
He played in the same high school conference (Cincinnati GCL) as MLB players Kevin Youkilis and Josh Harrison.
He is known for having one of the sweetest, most compact left-handed swings in baseball.
“You have to trust your hands; they know what to do with the bat.”
