'Boring' Benintendi will let his bat do the talking

SURRPRISE, Ariz. -- Andrew Benintendi carries the reputation of a good clubhouse guy and an outgoing individual into the first season of his five-year, $75 million free-agent deal with the White Sox.

But the veteran left fielder wouldn’t be the first choice, or even the fifth or sixth choice on his new team, if one is looking for a big talker. His personal description, delivered with a smile, wouldn’t make the front of most T-shirts.

“Boring is good in my eyes, so I try to be boring,” Benintendi told MLB.com. “I like to keep my head down.”

“Benni doesn’t say much,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s got a smile on his face, getting along good with the guys. He loves it here, loves the culture. But when Benni says something, it goes a long way.”

The White Sox did not pursue Benintendi for his interview skills. He is a significant left-handed-hitting addition for a White Sox lineup leaning very right-handed, while also bringing Gold Glove defense. He's a player the White Sox have targeted since the 2015 Draft.

Boston selected Benintendi seventh overall in the 2015 Draft, one pick ahead of where the White Sox were selecting in the first round. As a Spring Training veteran, he understands the process and doesn’t try to chase hits from Glendale to Peoria. The focus for Wednesday’s matchup in Surprise against the Royals, according to Benintendi, was seeing the ball deep and trying to get his contact point right.

“Early on, these first few [at-bats], I think I’ve been out in front. Just seeing it deeper and almost erring on the side of getting jammed,” Benintendi said. “If you are chasing hits this early -- say you are 0-for-5 early in spring and you are chasing hits and you are not focused on the process -- you have only a small sample size to work off of.

“That’s why we are here -- just getting reps, getting ABs. The result doesn’t matter much now. This is my seventh or eighth Spring Training. I know where I need to be physically.”

Grifol had Benintendi hitting third against the Royals, which is where he presently envisions Benintendi being situated during the season. He has 394 career plate appearances in that third spot, according to Baseball-Reference, but he won’t try to change his approach or deliver more power in that role.

“Nothing changes,” Benintendi said. “Just try to be a hitter. I’m trying to hit the ball hard and if it leaves the yard, then fine. If not, hopefully it finds the grass or somewhere where someone is not playing. After you hit it, there’s not much you can do. Hopefully you square it up and it’s all you can control.”

“His skillset is perfect for any lineup because he’s so versatile and he brings so many things to the table,” Grifol said. “He’s got power. It’s not like raw power here in batting practice. When the game starts, this guy can do a lot of things. And power is a part of his game. He fits in any lineup. I’m happy he’s in ours.”

Chicago is happy to have Benintendi and, with his Chicago residence all settled, the 28-year-old slugger is looking forward to officially get going with his new team on March 30 in Houston. He didn’t have to execute a deep dive to know he had the right fit with the White Sox.

“Just looking at the team they have now and the young talent they have on this team and the arms, I don’t need to be told about everything,” Benintendi said. “I could see it just from my own eyes and I want to be part of it.”

Benintendi admits to not knowing the White Sox fans very well, but he will have five years to develop that bond. He has an interesting sample size to draw from, based on previous years playing left field at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“You definitely hear it from the fans,” Benintendi said. “I’m glad to have them on my side at this point.”

When asked for the most creative comment coming from fans, Benintendi smiled and said, “Probably things I can’t say.”

“They are definitely not afraid to give it to you,” Benintendi added. “I’m excited to get to play in front of them.”