Sunday, June 03, 2001
Milford grad at head of draft class
VanBenschoten's big year at Kent State has him looking like a top draft pick
By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer
John VanBenschoten laughs when asked if he made all-city three years ago as a senior at Milford High.
“I was honorable mention,” he said.
That means at least 10 Division I high school baseball players were considered better than VanBenschoten that year.
It's safe to say not one of the 10 is even in his class now.
VanBenschoten just finished an incredible year at Kent State. He was so good that he came out of nowhere to get to the top of most draft lists. He's considered a lock to go in the first round on Tuesday and could go as high the top five. Baseball America, the baseball draft bible, rated him the third-best position player in the draft.
“I'm a little nervous,” he said. “There's a little extra pressure when you're trying to figure out where you're going to go. But I'm looking forward to it.”
VanBenschoten's numbers at Kent State were good enough to earn him first-team All-Americahonors — not as easy task at a Mid-American Conference school.
But when you hit .440 with 31 home runs, 84 RBI and six triples, when your slugging percentage is .982, when your on-base percentage is .551, you are hard to overlook.
“He's got a very good bat,” said Reds assistant general manager Doc Rodgers, “a special bat.”
VanBenschoten also has a pretty special arm. He was used in the closer role for Kent this year. He was 2-2 with eight saves and 2.77 ERA. He struck out 63 batters in 48 2/3 innings. His fastball tops out at 93 miles per hour.
Those skills helped VanBenschoten lead the Golden Flashes to their first-ever regional final, where they lost to No.19 Mississippi State.
His desire to pitch and hit led him to Kent.
“They were the only school that would let me do both,” he said.
He played first base at Kent, but he'll likely play right field in the pros to take an advantage of his arm and speed. He stole 22 bases this year.
“We have nicknamed him the toolshed because he has all the tools to be a great player,” said Philadelphia Phillie scout Lloyd Merritt.
This has all come quickly for VanBenschoten. He was a good player his first two years at Kent. He .290 with eight homers and 31 RBI as freshman. Last year, he improves to .355 with 10 HRs and 46 RBI.
Along the way, he grew from 6-foot-3, 185 pounds to 6-5, 215.
“Some of it was hitting the weights,” he said. “But I also grew into my body.”
As he got bigger, he got more athletic. Baseball America rated him the most athletic college player in the draft. It also ranks him the best base runner, the best arm and the second best power hitter.
This season, all those skills translated in big numbers from the start.
“After the first few weeks of the season, I started to get a lot of attention,” he said. “There were a lot of articles and stuff on the Internet.”
VanBenschoten is traveling around working out for various teams. He worked out for Montreal Expos on Thursuday. He was in Florida to work out with the Marlins Friday. Today, he'll be in Pittsburgh.
Tuesday, he'll be back in Milford waiting for the phone call. It should come early.
“I've been hearing Montreal,” VanBenschoten said.
The Expos pick sixth. That would make VanBenschoten the highest local pick since Mark Lewis went second in the draft in 1988.
Not bad. After all, three years ago VanBenschoten wasn't considered top 10 in the city, much less the country.
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Milford grad at head of draft class
