A baby-faced switch-hitter with moderate power, Benzinger overcame an injury-riddled minor league career to make the Red Sox as an outfielder. He switched to first base when Dwight Evans was returned to right field. The Red Sox traded him to Cincinnati with Jeff Sellers for Nick Esasky and Rob Murphy, and he became the Reds’ starting first baseman in 1989. He had seven RBI in one game against Detroit on September 15, 1987.
