Ed. be aware: A model of this text initially ran on February 2, 2026.
Who’s he and the place did he come from?
He’s Jake Bennett, the previous Oklahoma Sooner and 2022 second-round draft decide who the Purple Sox acquired for Luis Perales this previous offseason. This was curious as a result of Perales had simply returned from a 2024 UCL tear and nonetheless is simply 22 years outdated, however the 25 year-old Bennett had a reasonably unbelievable 2025 season, albeit capping out at double-A. He even ended his marketing campaign after fall ball because the group’s quantity 10 prospect. The Purple Sox are anticipated to advertise him as we speak to start out towards the Astros.
Too early to actually inform, however he could possibly be. If nothing else, Bennett’s archetype is certainly a favourite of Craig Breslow’s since his appointment as Chief Baseball Officer. He’s a towering lefty, sizing up at 6’6”, 234 kilos. Within the 2025 MLB draft, the Purple Sox used six of their first eight picks on SEC pitchers who’re at the least 6’2”. It helps that Bennett, who missed all of 2024 recovering from Tommy John surgical procedure (one other potential favourite trait of this entrance workplace…) is a lefty. Between Payton Tolle, Connelly Early, Johan Oviedo, and an rising Brandon Clarke, Bennett joins a room stuffed with giants. And I don’t imply those in San Francisco!
To get extra into Bennett’s skillset, although, he actually has some velocity throughout all 5 of his pitches (he goes to a few extra usually, although). His fastball is creeping again up in direction of he 97 mile per hour peak it reached earlier than his elbow harm. His cleanest pitch, a mid-80’s changeup with 7.1 toes of extension (which, had he pitched within the Majors, would have positioned him within the high 10 percentile) is graded at a 60 on a 20-80 scale on Baseball America. His cutter is kind of a bit shorter, however tops out at 88. As a complete, although Bennett struggles with management, he will get a 47.3% groundball share, which is certainly a constructive check in a man together with his velocity.
Too lengthy didn’t learn: huge man throws onerous. And throwing onerous actually comes with benefits, as he labored his method up the Nationals’ system after getting back from a 12 months’s absence, proving himself to be as much as the problem at every stage. He completed 2025 with a cumulative 2.27 ERA and 1.08 WHIP and allowed simply three dwelling runs in 75 innings.
Tl;dr, simply present me his 2026 stats.
AAA: 5 GS, 21 IP, 16 Ok, 3 BB, 12 H, 0 HR, 0.86 ERA
Present me a cool spotlight.
His extension is on show right here, alongside together with his velocity, as he punches 4 consecutive batters, going 4 innings in aid whereas permitting a run, incomes him the maintain on this explicit contest in entrance of an attendance of 488 that, at first look, appears a bit embellished, but it surely’s wonderful.
What’s he doing in his image up there?
I’d wish to take the chance to say that, together with his shoulder size hair and massive body, Bennett undoubtedly seems like a man in a mid-2000’s coming-of-age movie named “Jake.” His facial features up there provides to that.
For another enjoyable truth: he went to highschool AND faculty with Nats hurler (and 2020 1st spherical decide) Cade Cavalli. Bennett was truly the primary one drafted late within the 2019 MLB draft, however went to Oklahoma as a substitute. Right here’s the rapport between the 2 of them and Jake Irvin.
Jake Irvin, Cade Cavalli & Jake Bennett have a ton in frequent – all of them pitch, all of them went to Oklahoma, all of them received drafted by the Nats, and so they all needed to come again from Tommy John.
I sat down with them in spring to debate the bond they share & how they lean on one another. https://t.co/rWUdD9kKcL
— Dan Kolko (@DanKolko_) April 7, 2024
What’s his position on the 2026 Purple Sox?
With the entire beginning pitching depth the Sox started the season with, I don’t suppose many individuals anticipated to see Bennett getting a begin with the large league membership this early on within the season. The truth that he’s, although, will not be merely indicative of all of the accidents — it’s additionally a testomony to simply how good he’s been thus far at AAA. Nonetheless, he stays firmly behind Payton Tolle on the depth chart and Sonny Grey is due again quickly, with Garrett Crochet HOPEFULLY not far behind him. As of now, he’s a spot starter. However the accidents will hold coming (they at all times do) and if he pitches effectively, we may even see lots of him this summer time.
