Jim Benedict

Last updated

James Scott Benedict (born February 1, 1961) is an American professional baseball pitcher, coach, scout, and front office executive. He works for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also worked in MLB for the Texas Rangers, Montreal Expos, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Miami Marlins.

Contents

Playing career

Benedict attended Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, Los Angeles, and played for the school's baseball team as a center fielder. Benedict attended Los Angeles Valley College, where he began his college baseball career. Coach Dave Snow cut him from the team, but kept him as a batting practice pitcher. Benedict learned to pitch sidearm focusing on throwing off-speed pitches from Snow, and made the team as a pitcher the next year. He transferred to Arizona State University to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils, but the team’s coach preferred a fastball-heavy style and rarely used Benedict. After the season, he pitched for Snow in collegiate summer baseball. [1]

Snow recommended Benedict to a professional scout for the Kansas City Royals, and the Royals signed Benedict in August 1983. During his first professional batting practice in spring training in 1984, Benedict was hit in the head with a line drive and lost consciousness. [1] He made his professional debut with the Fort Myers Royals of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 1984, and was promoted to the Memphis Chicks of the Class AA Southern League at midseason. [1] He pitched for the Royals and Atlanta Braves organizations through the 1986 season. [2]

Coaching and executive career

After retiring from his playing career, Benedict became a pitching coach at Loyola Marymount University and Chapman College. In 1990, he became a scout for the Texas Rangers. He worked as the minor league pitching coordinator for the Montreal Expos from 1994 through 1998. [3] He served as a substitute pitching coach for the major league team for six days in May 1998, when Bobby Cuellar left the team for personal reasons. [4] From 1998 through 2000, Benedict was the minor league pitching coordinator of the Los Angeles Dodgers. [3] He scouted for the New York Yankees from 2001 through 2006, and for the Cleveland Indians in 2007 and 2008. [2]

Benedict joined the Pittsburgh Pirates organization after the 2008 season. He served as an advanced scout, [5] minor league pitching coordinator, and special assistant to the general manager. With the Pirates, Benedict and Ray Searage, the Pirates' pitching coach, were credited with improvements from Gerrit Cole, Francisco Liriano, Mark Melancon, Edinson Vólquez, and Charlie Morton. [6] [7] On October 24, 2015, the Miami Marlins hired Benedict from the Pirates as their new vice president of pitching development. [8] [9] The Marlins traded Trevor Williams to the Pirates for Richard Mitchell as compensation for Benedict's hiring. [10] [11] The team’s new ownership fired Benedict after the 2017 season, [12] and the Chicago Cubs hired him as a special assistant to baseball operations. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miami Marlins</span> Major League Baseball franchise in Miami, Florida

The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Prior</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1980)

Mark William Prior is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current coach. A onetime top prospect of the Chicago Cubs, he pitched for the team from 2002 to 2006 in a career that was marred by injuries. In his prime, his repertoire of pitches included a mid-90s mph fastball, a curveball, and a changeup. He is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Conine</span> American baseball player (born 1966)

Jeffrey Guy Conine is an American former professional baseball left fielder / first baseman and current front office assistant for the Miami Marlins, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 17 seasons, with six teams. An inaugural member of the Florida Marlins who was with the franchise for both of its World Series titles, he was nicknamed "Mr. Marlin" for his significant history with the club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Tracy (baseball)</span> American baseball player and manager (born 1955)

James Edwin Tracy is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) manager and player. He played for the Chicago Cubs in 1980 and 1981, and has managed the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies. Tracy was named Manager of the Year in 2009, only the second manager to win the award after being hired mid-season, joining Jack McKeon for the Florida Marlins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derrek Lee</span> American baseball player (born 1975)

Derrek Leon Lee, nicknamed "D-Lee", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. Lee played with the San Diego Padres, Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Wuertz</span> American baseball player & coach (born 1978)

Michael James Wuertz is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics. He was known for his slider, which generated the most misses per swing in 2009. He is currently the pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels minor league affiliates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Brower</span> American baseball player (born 1972)

James Robert Brower is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played for eight Major League Baseball (MLB) teams: the Cleveland Indians (1999-2000), Cincinnati Reds (2001-2002), Montreal Expos (2002), San Francisco Giants (2003-2004), Atlanta Braves (2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006), San Diego Padres (2006), and New York Yankees (2007).

Brant Michael Brown is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1996 through 2000 for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates and Florida Marlins and has also coached for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Marlins, and Seattle Mariners. He also played college baseball for the Fresno State Bulldogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Grabow</span> American baseball player (born 1978)

John William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" is an American former professional baseball left-handed reliever. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs of the Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Wade</span> American baseball player (1922-2002)

Benjamin Styron Wade was an American professional baseball player who became a longtime director of scouting operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers during a period that saw the team win four world championships. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1948), Brooklyn Dodgers (1952–54), St. Louis Cardinals (1954) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (1955). Wade batted and threw right-handed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Herges</span> American baseball player & coach (born 1970)

Matthew Tyler Herges is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1999 to 2009, and is the former pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Gott</span> American baseball player and coach (born 1959)

James William Gott is an American professional baseball pitcher and coach. Gott pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 14 years for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Los Angeles Dodgers, from 1982 to 1995. He was the bullpen coach for the Philadelphia Phillies from 2018 through 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Meyer (pitcher)</span> American baseball player & coach (born 1981)

Daniel Livingston Meyer is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2004 to 2010 for the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics, and Florida Marlins. Meyer's coaching career began in 2014, within the Braves organization. Prior to the 2022 season, he was hired by the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2024, Meyer was hired by the Colorado Rockies organization.

Andrew Jason Lorraine is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1994 to 2002 for the California Angels, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and Milwaukee Brewers. He was born in Los Angeles, California. He also played for the La New Bears in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League.

Daniel Ross Moskos is an American former professional baseball left-handed pitcher who played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2011. He currently serve as the assistant pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Volstad</span> American baseball player (born 1986)

Christopher Kenneth Volstad is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He is a 2005 graduate of Palm Beach Gardens High School. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox and in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A. J. Burnett</span> American baseball player (born 1977)

Allan James Burnett, is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Florida Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies for 17 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Livesey</span> American baseball coach

Jeffrey William Livesey is an American former professional baseball player and current coach in the Miami Marlins organization. He has coached in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp and Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trevor Williams (baseball)</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Trevor Anthony Williams is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and New York Mets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dillon Peters</span> American baseball player (born 1992)

Dillon James Peters is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Peters was drafted by the Miami Marlins in the 10th round of the 2014 MLB draft and made his MLB debut with them in 2017. He has also played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels and Pittsburgh Pirates and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Morgan, David (August 2, 1985). "JIM BENEDICT : A Side-Armed Sidewinder : Reliever Snakes Through Minors on the Low Road to Kansas City". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Pirates hire Jim Benedict as Special Assistant to GM" (Press release). Pittsburgh Pirates. October 28, 2008. Archived from the original on January 2, 2018. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Berry, Adam (January 20, 2016). "Jim Benedict Marlins VP pitching development". MLB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ Dave Desmond (June 21, 1998). "Kapler's Numbers May Add Up to Promotion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  5. ↑ Bob Cohn (August 27, 2013). "Pirates' pitching maven Benedict revitalizes 1 of MLB's top staffs". TribLIVE. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  6. ↑ "The rebuilding of the Pirates' Charlie Morton". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Marlins hire away Pirates' pitching guru Jim Benedict". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Marlins pirate pitching guru Jim Benedict away from Pittsburgh". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  9. ↑ foxsports (February 19, 2016). "In Jim Benedict, the Marlins have added a pitcher whisperer to their front office". FOX Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates-Miami Marlins trade was compensation deal". ESPN. November 11, 2015. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  11. ↑ Frisaro, Joe (January 20, 2016). "Marlins' Jim Benedict a master of preparation". MLB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  12. ↑ Frisaro, Joe (January 20, 2016). "Marlins dismissing 4 front-office executives". MLB.com. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  13. ↑ Madeline Kenney email (November 21, 2017). "Cubs name Venable first-base coach; Benedict hired in front office". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved January 2, 2018.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.