Andy Benes was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on August 20, 1967, in Evansville, Indiana, and grew up in a family of baseball players. His father, Jim Benes, was a minor league pitcher, and his brother, Alan Benes, also played in the MLB.
Andy Benes attended the University of Evansville, where he played college baseball and was named the Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year in 1988. He was then selected as the first overall pick by the San Diego Padres in the 1988 MLB draft.
Benes made his MLB debut in 1989 and quickly established himself as a dominant pitcher. He had a powerful fastball and a devastating slider, which helped him strike out batters at a high rate. In his rookie season, he won 14 games and was named the National League Rookie of the Year.
Benes continued to pitch well for the Padres over the next few seasons, earning All-Star honors in 1991 and 1993. He also led the league in strikeouts in 1994 and finished second in the Cy Young Award voting.
In 1995, Benes was traded to the Seattle Mariners, where he struggled with injuries and inconsistency. He was then traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1996, where he regained his form and became one of the best pitchers in the league. He won 18 games in 1996 and helped the Cardinals reach the playoffs.
Benes continued to pitch well for the Cardinals over the next few seasons, earning All-Star honors in 1997 and 1998. He also led the league in strikeouts in 1998 and finished third in the Cy Young Award voting.
In 2000, Benes signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he played for two seasons. He helped the Diamondbacks reach the playoffs in 2001 and pitched well in the World Series, although the team lost to the New York Yankees.
Benes retired from baseball after the 2002 season with a career record of 155-139 and a 3.97 ERA. He struck out 2,000 batters in his career and was known for his fierce competitiveness and work ethic.
After retiring from baseball, Benes became a Christian minister and worked with Athletes in Action, a Christian sports ministry. He also served as a special assistant to the general manager for the Cardinals and worked as a television analyst for the Diamondbacks.
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