Benintendi established deep ties in a short time with the Kansas City Royals

Andrew Benintendi took his first round of batting practice at Yankee Stadium just like any other day, the first round of swings with all arms and wrists as he gets loose and before he incorporates and syncs up his lower half in later rounds.

Between rounds there were even a few head nods across the cage to Kansas City Royals players stretching.

The big difference between this day and any other day was that Benintendi wore New York Yankees pinstripes and was preparing to bat leadoff against the Royals and cause the same fits and frustration to the Royals pitchers that he has to Royals oppositions all season.

“It’s definitely a weird situation but it is what it is,” Benintendi said. “In the end, I’ve got a job to do and I’m excited to get started.”

Despite reports that Benintendi would be willing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to play for the Yankees, he said he had not had any conversations with anyone from the Yankees about getting vaccinated and it was not something he agreed to as part of the trade. He said he’s “open-minded” about it and “not against it.”

During his time with the Royals, Benintendi restored his reputation as one of the most consistent left-handed hitters in the majors with a discerning eye at the plate, great plate discipline and great approach.

Now, he’ll display that renewed offensive profile against the Royals in a four-game series in his new home as the clubs executed a trade on Wednesday night in advance of next week’s MLB trade deadline.

“We all knew something was probably going to happen,” Benintendi said. “When I found out last night, I got to hang out in the room with a couple of guys and just say see you tomorrow. It’s exciting and I’m looking forward to these next four games.”

The Royals traded Benintendi to the Yankees for three minor-league pitchers, the sides hammering out the final details and then exchanging and reviewing medical records while the Royals -- Benintendi included -- flew from Kansas City to New York City in advance of Thursday night’s series opener.

Benintendi, who joined the Royals via a trade prior to the 2021 season, learned of the news when Royals manager Mike Matheny came to his room in the team hotel and put president of baseball operations Dayton Moore and general manager J.J. Picollo on speakerphone.

“That’s a message I’d like to deliver face to face, thank him,” Matheny said. “He just did so many things well. I’m just really impressed. You guys have heard me sing his praises for a while. (I wanted to) make sure he knew he was loved here, but such is the business of baseball.”

The trade hardly blindsided anyone. In fact, Benintendi said he’d approached the finale of the homestand at Kauffman Stadium as though it could “potentially” be his final game there with the Royals. Likewise, he assumed his flight might be his last with the team.

“My time in KC was great,” Benintendi said. “I made a lot of really good friends, friendships that will last longer than my career. Obviously with a year and a half there, I got to know the city pretty well and had some good times.”

Benintendi, who represented the Royals in the MLB All-Star Game earlier this month, entered Thursday night with a slash line of .320/.387/.398 with 40 runs scored, 14 doubles, two triples, three home runs and 39 RBIs.

He was also tied for the second-most multi-hit games in the majors (34), ranked fifth in batting average (.320), tied for seventh in hits (111) and ninth in on-base percentage (.387).

As far as facing Benintendi right after they traded him away, Matheny quipped, “I’d have been fine leaving him here at the end (of the series). But I knew this was kind of in the works too.

“Especially for guys that I do have a longer history with, I’ve known Benny for a while, I want the best for all of them,” Matheny said. “I want the best for them (in KC) first. But seeing how this was going to be inevitable. I was concerned that we were taking care of him as best as possible and what works out best for him in the long run too.”

Two worthwhile Benintendi trades?

A move had been expected for some time. Benintendi, 28, can become a free-agent this offseason for the first time in his career.

Three pitchers the Royals received in return for Benintendi share at least one trait in that they’ve each shown the ability to rack up strikeouts.

Beck Way registered a strikeout-per-9 innings of 10.0, while Chandler Champlain (11.5 K/9) and T.J. Sikkema (13.4 K/9) had even gaudier numbers in that regard.

“Collectively the strikeout rates is what stood out the most,” Picollo said. “I think they all kind of offer different things individually. With Sikkema being a left-hander, the highest pick, dealt with some injuries but on a nice recovery right now and pitching well this year.

“A little bit of a different look. He’s got a good breaking ball. Probably, even though he was at High-A, a little more advanced from an experience standpoint.”

Picollo said they do view Champlain as a starter, and he described Way as a “projection guy with a big arm.”

As for what the Royals got out of Benintendi’s tenure (227 games) after trading for him, Picollo classified acquiring Benintendi in the same context as the free-agent acquisitions of Carlos Santana and Mike Minor.

They were all brought in to help steady a young inexperience nucleus and also help those young players learn how to become big leaguers.

“Needless to say, we’re disappointed with how this season has gone, but it doesn’t take away from what he meant to us,” Picollo said. “I think he sets a great example. ... He’s just a model of consistency. His emotions never get too high or too low. I think that’s a great thing for young players to see, somebody who has won a World Series and how to go about your business.

“For that, we’re grateful that we Andrew here for the time we had him. I think his purpose here and what he has meant to this organization will have lasting effects on players in that clubhouse.”

Matheny echoed those sentiments, and added he has used Benintendi multiple times -- even on Thursday -- as an example for younger players.

“Going about his business in a certain way, and there’s success that’s obvious,” Matheny said. “He just got back from the All-Star Game. He’s hitting .320 and every time he walks up there it seems like he’s doing something good. That’s leadership with a group of young guys that want that next level. He’s at that next level. …

“Let’s not forget the fact this guy has been on championship teams. Championship players make up championship teams, and those championship players have championship habits.”

In order to get Benintendi in a three-team trade involving the Boston Red Sox, the Royals gave up outfielders Khalil Lee and Franchy Cordero as well as minor-league pitchers Luis De La Rosa and Grant Gambrell in the trade. The Red Sox also sent cash to the Royals to offset Benintendi’s 2021 salary.

A former national college player of the year, first-round pick of the Red Sox (seventh overall, 2015) and Baseball America’s No. 1 prospect in 2017, Benintendi had abandoned his natural swing and approach at the plate to chase home runs and power numbers at the end of his time with the Red Sox.

However, Benintendi returned to his natural line-drive swing with the Royals. This season marked his first All-Star selection, and last year he won the first Gold Glove of his career, taking over for Royals legend Alex Gordon in left field.

“He had a personality a lot like Gordo’s in my mind,” Matheny said. “He just worked, and (it was) watch what I’m doing without telling everybody ‘Watch what I’m doing.’ He said things every once in a while. When he says something it’s like the EF Hutton commercial. When EF Hutton talks, everybody listens. Benny didn’t say much. Gordo didn’t say much. But when they talk, everybody listens.”

One of the players watching and taking in Benintendi’s approach was highly-touted rookie shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., who lockered next to Benintendi in KC.

“He’s a World Series champion, just picking his brain about that and just how he just comes to the field everyday and is the same guy no matter what” Witt said. “He could be 4-for-4 with four homers or 0-for 4 with four strikeouts. He’s always the same guy the same day. So I’m just taking that from him and just kind of talking to him about little things and picking up little things. It’s been a lot of fun being around him.”