Indians select high school OF 14th overall in MLB Draft
CLEVELAND, OH --- The Cleveland Indians today announced the selection of OF Will Benson with the club's first round selection (14th overall) in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
Benson, who will turn 18 on June 16, is a high school prospect who attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound athlete played in 35 games across his senior season for the Wildcats, batting .454 (44-97) with 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 41 RBI and a 1.380 OPS (.566 OBP/.814 SLG). The left-handed batter and thrower also drew 29 walks against 11 strikeouts, going 11-for-12 in stolen base attempts. Benson was named to the 2016 Rawlings Perfect Game All-American First Team after appearing in the 2015 Team USA Baseball Tournament of Stars summer showcase, as well as the Under Armour All-America game last August at Wrigley Field in Chicago. His selection to the USA 18U National Team included a trip to the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup in Nishinomiya, Japan.
Benson, also a standout player on the Westminster basketball team, has signed a National Letter of Intent with the Duke University baseball program.
Recent high school position players selected by Cleveland in the First Round have also included SS Francisco Lindor (2011) and OF Clint Frazier (2013).
