Will Benson's mindset as he gets another chance

Will Benson entered the 2024 season with All-Star ambition, sky-high goals and all of the confidence in the world. But instead of a breakout year, he had a miserable season, posting the 13th-worst WAR in all of MLB as well as the worst strikeout rate in baseball.

A year like that weighs on you, challenges you and tests you.

“What was tested was my ability to show up every day consistently and be the same guy every day,” Benson said. “My confidence wasn’t tested because I put my confidence in the preparation and the process. What was tested was my ability to take what I’ve been given and show it the same way every day. I thank God that I did that.”

Because of how poorly he performed in 2024, Benson didn’t make the Reds’ big league roster out of spring training in 2025. He’s back on the team now, but only because of a terrible run of injuries. He’s still a bench piece on a team with a lacking offense, but maybe his four RBI performance in Thursday’s win over the Chicago White Sox turned enough heads for Benson to get another real shot.

He got the chance to play in all three games against the White Sox because TJ Friedl (wrist) wasn’t available to hit for most of the series. Benson capitalized on his opportunity this week with three highlight catches, four hits and a big game on Thursday that included a two-run double and a homer.

If Benson gets a chance to play every day again, he’s going to handle it with a different mindset than he had in 2024. After the lessons that he learned the hard way by getting “slapped in the face” last season, he’s not worried about proving anyone wrong or chasing the lofty goals that he was focused on twelve months ago.

“I’m really just be grateful for where I am,” Benson said, “Because I could be somewhere else.”

In the latest episode of Power Stacks with Giesenschlag and Goldsmith, we dive into Will Benson's journey. Hear from Benson on his path to the opportunity that he has now. The Apple Podcast link is below, and you can also find the show on Spotify and YouTube.

Through their actions, the Reds made it clear how they viewed Benson before this week. Everybody loves the guy. But ultimately, you’ve got to hit. As the Reds kept Benson in Triple-A, there evidently didn’t seem to be much confidence that Benson was going to hit in the short-term.

First, Benson wasn’t even included in the battle for the final two spots on the Opening Day roster between Blake Dunn, Jacob Hurtubise and Stuart Fairchild. When a terrible wave of injuries hit the Reds in early April, Benson got called up for a few days, made one start and then got optioned back to Triple-A.

The next bad wave of injuries popped up in early May. The Reds’ offense was desperate for a spark. And still, Benson was stuck in Triple-A until last Friday as the Reds churned through backup outfielders on the roster. Dunn and Hurtubise stayed on the roster for a while even though they were really struggling, Tyler Callihan got a chance in left field despite having limited outfield experience and Jake Fraley was given a long runway to work out of his his slump before he landed on the injured list.

Benson wasn’t called back up until last Friday. He was surely hoping that he’d be back sooner, but he tried not to get frustrated as he waited his turn in Louisville.

“I just chalk it up to the game,” Benson said. “I’m big on my faith. God has a plan for me. God has a way that he wants my career to play out. In that moment, it’s how well can I show up and be the same guy and play. Really just be grateful for where I am because I could be somewhere else.”

The silver lining was that Benson got to play every day in Triple-A.

“I’m trying to build consistency,” Benson said. “That’s hard to do when you don’t play every day. Getting an AB every two or three days. In reality, it was the best thing for me.”

In Louisville, he got the chance to work on a swing change that he made in spring training. Eric Davis told Benson that he was too stiff and recommended that Benson hold his hands out in front of him before he swung the bat. The adjustment helped make Benson’s swing more fluid.

Benson was excited with how he looked in Triple-A as he posted a .897 OPS. But the gap between Triple-A pitching and big league pitching has never been greater. Benson had a nice game for the Reds last Wednesday against the White Sox, including a rocket double and a sharp opposite field lineout that jumped off of his bat.

On Wednesday, Francona said that Benson still had too small of a sample size to tell whether or not this swing adjustment would make a difference in the big leagues.

“I don’t get wrapped up in six-or-seven at-bats,” Terry Francona said on Wednesday, one day before Benson’s big game in the series finale. “You can ask me one day, and he’s hot. And three days later, it’s like what happened to him. It’s a small sample.”

Following Thursday's win, Francona praised Benson for taking advantage of the opportunity that he has had this week.

“When we sent him down, we told him to go play and you’ll get a chance,” Francona said. “That’s the way the game is. If you deserve it, you’ll get a chance. He deserved it, and now he’s getting a chance.”

Friedl’s wrist injury opened up the chance for Benson to get off the bench and make consecutive starts in center field this week. Every at-bat matters for Benson. After all, when he was on the big league roster for a few days in early April, Benson was sent back to Louisville after having just one bad game against Justin Verlander.

Jake Fraley could return from the IL as soon as May 17 as he ramps up baseball activities, and the Reds will have to send someone down when he returns. There was a chance that the White Sox series was going to be Benson’s only shot to show what he can do.

Last season, Benson’s struggles really weighed on him. He doesn’t want to put the same pressure on himself anymore, and that shaped his mindset entering this week.

“I’ve surrendered whatever happens out here to God,” Benson said. “Whatever happens out here is a piece of cake in reality.”

Going back to Triple-A this season gave Benson more appreciation for the opportunity that he has in front of him in the big leagues right now, even if he’s not an every day player yet.

“A big thing is gratitude,” Benson said. “I’m just grateful to be here, and I’m not necessarily trying to do too much with what I’m given. It’s already a blessing to be considered a big leaguer. To be in this dugout and get the opportunity to play, man, what an honor. What a blessing. The biggest thing is being grateful every day to work on my craft at the big league level. That’s it.”

In 2023, Benson was a top-20 hitter in MLB from June 1 through the end of the season. During that season, he swore that one game changed everything.

Benson was called up as an injury replacement for Wil Myers, who wasn’t going to miss much time. The plan was that Benson would be called up, fill a spot on the bench and go back to Triple-A when the next outfielder got healthy.

But then, Benson hit an opposite field triple at Fenway Park at the end of May. He saw that result, his first big hit with the Reds, as a sign that his approach was working. The swing also showed former Reds manager David Bell that Benson was ready for more playing time.

Benson’s confidence skyrocketed after that game, and so did his production. He truly believes that was the day where his entire 2023 season took off.

Benson is trying to follow that same path in 2025. The 26-year-old still has everything to prove, but getting back on the right track as a hitter has to start somewhere. As Benson showed in 2023, it can turn with one great day.

“That’s the beautiful thing about baseball,” Benson said on Wednesday, about 24 hours before he delivered one of the best games of his big league career. “It could be any day. My focus isn’t necessarily on that day. My focus is more toward the process and the art of being a consistent hitter. That’s where I’m going to find my joy and my consistency.”

Just maybe, that day was Thursday against the White Sox.