Sky is the limit for this mentally tough Reds outfielder

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- In the early days of his professional career, Reds outfielder Will Benson acknowledged he focused much of his attention on shaping his chiseled body and building strength. In 2023, his first season with Cincinnati, Benson realized he needed to be just as strong mentally.

That came during an early-season test, when Benson opened his tenure with the Reds going 1-for-25 (.040) with 14 strikeouts over his first 10 games in two big league stints.

“I learned why I struggled. A lot of it had to do with the mental side of the game,” Benson told Jim Day and me on Wednesday during the Hot Stove League on the Reds Radio Network. “It’s just being able to really bear down when the going gets tough, especially when it’s pressured like that. I feel like, new team and making the team, I got off to such a slow start that every at-bat felt like I was fighting for my life, which in a way, yes. But also, no. It’s going to be all right. Just continue to focus on the day-to-day work and showing up.”

Benson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on May 26 and didn't go back. He hit .298 with 11 home runs, 31 RBIs and a .931 OPS over his next 98 games.

The Reds acquired Benson from the Guardians on Feb. 8, 2023, for Minor Leaguers Justin Boyd and Steve Hajjar just before camp opened. Benson now finds himself in a far different spot than one year ago, when he was simply battling in spring for an Opening Day roster spot.

“My thought process going into this year is to perform -- perform well enough to where my actions are significant in us getting a playoff berth and going deep into the playoffs,” Benson said.

Benson has not only learned from his struggles last year, but also his success.

“What I learned from those struggles is how precise and detailed my pre-work has got to be so I know everything is on point,” Benson said. “There’s no guessing, ‘Am I doing the right thing or not?’ I think when I was succeeding, that’s what I learned. I learned when that prep work is down to a ‘T,’ I can trust that.

“The other thing I learned from my failures -- and this is directly related to why I succeeded -- [is] every pitch I am ready to hit. There is no tentativeness. I have my approach and I know what I want to do when I go up to that plate every time. Having that approach and being on the attack and just showing the God-given talents and the work I’ve put in -- put that on display and hold nothing back.”

Benson, 25, said he took about two weeks off to rest after last season. Then it was back to work.

“I get up in the morning, go get my lift in, then I’ll hit,” he said. “After that, I will do my speed and defensive work. That’s kind of the day.”

During the offseason, the front office made significant additions to the Reds’ rotation, bullpen and infield. The outfield returns pretty much the same, with the only change being infielder Spencer Steer's move to the outfield.

A left-handed hitter, Benson was used primarily in a platoon role as a corner outfielder. He hit .297 with a .938 OPS in 285 plate appearances vs. right-handers and .146 with a .400 OPS in only 44 plate appearances against lefties. Besides Benson and Steer, the Reds also have Jake Fraley, TJ Friedl and Stuart Fairchild as outfielders, with second baseman Jonathan India potentially getting into the mix as well.

“There’s a lot of focus, detail [and] training so I could be better next year,” Benson said.