Cleveland Indians / Guardians The
Cleveland Indians selected Benson in the first round, with the 14th overall selection, of the
2016 Major League Baseball draft out of
The Westminster Schools in
Atlanta, Georgia. He was committed to attend
Duke University to play
college baseball for the
Duke Blue Devils, but instead signed with the Indians for a $2.5 million
signing bonus. Benson also played for the
national under-18 team that won the
2015 U-18 Baseball World Cup. Benson made his professional debut in 2016 with the
Rookie-level Arizona League Indians where he posted a .209
batting average with six home runs and 27 runs batted in during 44 games. In 2017, he played for the
Mahoning Valley Scrappers of the
Low-A New York–Penn League where he batted .238 with ten home runs and 36 runs batted in during 56 games, and in 2018, he played with the
Lake County Captains of the
Single-A South Atlantic League, hitting .180 with 22 home runs and 58 runs batted in during 123 games. He returned to Lake County to begin 2019. On April 18, 2019, he hit four home runs in one game. Benson was promoted to the
Lynchburg Hillcats of the
High-A Carolina League in June after hitting .272 with 18 home runs and 55 runs batted in during 62 games with Lake County. Over 61 games in Lynchburg, he batted .189 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in. Following his poor performance, he considered quitting baseball. In July 2020, Benson signed on to play for Team Texas of the
Constellation Energy League (a makeshift four-team independent league created as a result of the
COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2020 season. He batted .143 in 24 games. He began the 2021 season with the
Akron RubberDucks of the
Double-A Northeast, moving up to the
Triple-A Columbus Clippers in August. In 2022, Benson batted .279 in 89 games in Triple-A. The Guardians selected Benson's contract on August 1. On August 10, Benson collected his first career hit, an RBI single off of
Drew Hutchison of the
Detroit Tigers. He batted .182 and struck out 19 times in 61
plate appearances. Benson began the 2023 season with the Reds but was demoted to the
Louisville Bats after getting one hit in eight games. On June 7, Benson hit his first major league home run, a
walk-off against the
Los Angeles Dodgers. He played in 108 games for the Reds, batting .275/.365/.498 with 11 home runs, 31 RBI, and 19 stolen bases. Benson played in 128 games for Cincinnati during the 2024 campaign, slashing .187/.274/.376 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. He struggled with strikeouts, fanning on almost 40 percent of plate appearances, up from 31 percent in 2023. in 2025Benson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 season. He was called up to Cincinnati from April 8 to 12, then again on May 9. He homered in four straight games from May 15 to 18, all Reds wins. Benson was named the
National League Player of the Week for the eighth week of the season after going 10-for-19 (.526) with five home runs and 10 RBI in that period. He was the first Red to win the award since
Rece Hinds won the previous July. Benson returned to the minors in August but was promoted back to Cincinnati when the team designated
Jake Fraley for assignment. == Personal life ==