Andrew Benintendi, former Madeira HS standout, earns first MLB All-Star Game selection

In his seventh Major League Baseball season, Kansas City Royals outfielder and former Madeira High School standout Andrew Benintendi earned his first Major League Baseball All-Star selection on Sunday.

Benintendi, an American League reserve, is one of 13 players on MLB rosters from Greater Cincinnati high schools, University of Cincinnati or Xavier University. He joins Chicago Cubs outfielder and fellow first-time All-Star Ian Happ, a former UC Bearcats standout, as well as former Middletown High School standout Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies, who earned his second consecutive All-Star selection.

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Benintendi said earlier this month that he's trying not to worry about reports that he could be dealt ahead of MLB's trade deadline Aug. 2. NYPost.com's Dan Martin and Jon Heyman reported Saturday that the New York Yankees have had talks about acquiring Benintendi.

MLB Network's Jon Morosi on Benintendi's trade candidacy:

"I think it goes back to there's only so much you can control," Benintendi said before last week's series finale in Detroit, per Kansascity.com's Lynn Worthy. "I mean, I feel like when I was younger and when I first came up, I'd try to control a lot more than what I was capable of, and that would lead to worrying about stuff that didn't really matter. I just think less is more. ... The only thing I can control is showing up and doing my work. Everything else is what it is and don't worry about it too much."

A report last month via Twitter from MLB Network's Jon Morosi indicated that the Toronto Blue Jays were among teams interested in Benintendi.

Benintendi enters Monday hitting .317 with three homers and 35 RBIs in 350 plate appearances in his second season with the Royals. He hit .276 with 17 homers and 73 RBIs in 2021 and won his first career Gold Glove.

In Feb. 2021 - shortly after Benintendi was dealt from the Boston Red Sox to the Royals in a three-team trade that also included the New York Mets - Miamiherald.com's Barry Jackson and Craig Mish reported that the Miami Marlins could have landed Benintendi in a three-team trade but instead opted to sign former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Duvall.

Benintendi hit .273 with 51 homers and 260 RBIs with an OPS of .789 over his first five MLB seasons, all with the Red Sox. He finished second behind the Yankees' Aaron Judge in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2017.

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