CLEVELAND, OH — The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has signed 1B/OF WILL BENSON to a professional contract. Benson, who turned 18 yesterday, was Cleveland’s first round selection (14th overall) in the June 9 First-Year Player Draft.
Benson attended The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound left-handed hitter played in 35 games across his senior season for the Wildcats, batting .454 (44-97) with 11 doubles, 8 home runs, 41 RBI and a 1.380 OPS (.566 OBP/.814 SLG). He also drew 29 walks against 11 strikeouts, going 11-for-12 in stolen base attempts. Benson was named to the 2016 Rawlings Perfect Game All-American First Team after appearing in the 2015 Team USA 18U Baseball Tournament of Stars summer showcase, as well as the Under Armour All-America game last August at Wrigley Field in Chicago. His selection to the USA 18U National Team included a trip to the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup in Nishinomiya, Japan.
Benson was rated as the 23rd-overall prospect entering the draft (Baseball America) and was also cited by BA as having the “Best Power” among 2016 high school draft-eligible prospects.
The Cleveland Indians also announced the signing of C LOGAN ICE, the club’s Competitive Balance Lottery Round “B” selection (72nd overall) from the 2016 First-Year Player Draft.
Ice, 21, just finished his junior year at Oregon State University, batting .310 (54-for-174) with seven home runs and 39 RBI for the season in 54 games for the Beavers. He drew a team-high 37 walks, while also posting Oregon State’s highest slugging percentage (.563) and on-base percentage (.432). He ranked second on the team in both RBI and home runs.
The 5-foot-11, 191-pound catcher threw out 44 percent of base stealers last season (19-of-43) and committed just four errors on his way to being named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Ice was also named one of three finalists for the Johnny Bench Award, which recognizes the top catcher the NCAA. Logan was rated as the 67th-overall prospect entering last Thursday’s draft (Baseball America)
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