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Baltimore Orioles: Where does Orioles’ Kim rank among left fielders in AL East?

By Nate Wardle

Mar 1, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) at bat during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles outfielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) at bat during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to first as he watches his ball leave the park for a solo home run during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi (16) runs to first as he watches his ball leave the park for a solo home run during the sixth inning of an MLB spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Boston Red Sox

Red Sox’ LFs – Andrew Benintendi, Chris Young, Bryce Brentz, Blake Swihart, Rusney Castillo, Junior Lake

Left field for the Red Sox is young Andrew Benintendi’s to lose. The 22-year-old appeared in 34 games in 2016, hitting .295/.359/.476 with 2 HRs, 11 2Bs, 14 RBIs and 16 runs.

Defensively, is dWAR was slightly negative, but often the analytics don’t look at small sample sizes favorably.

Benintendi is the latest young player who can emerge as a star for the Red Sox, but he has plenty of backups as well. Chris Young is continuing his tour around the AL East, going from New York to Boston. He won’t be the primary DH and can play left field if Benintendi struggles.

Blake Swihart is another option in left field. Rusney Castillo continues to be massively disappointing, as his $72 million dollar albatross of a contract putting more expectations on him.

I can’t see Lake or Brentz making the Red Sox loaded roster.

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