Kris Benson was a professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on November 7, 1974, in Kennesaw, Georgia, and attended Clemson University, where he played college baseball for the Clemson Tigers.
Benson was drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1996 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 1999 and played for the Pirates until 2004. During his time with the Pirates, Benson had a record of 43-49 with an ERA of 4.34. He was known for his fastball, which could reach up to 95 miles per hour, and his curveball.
In 2004, Benson was traded to the New York Mets, where he played for two seasons. He had a record of 14-12 with an ERA of 4.23 during his time with the Mets. In 2006, Benson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles, where he played for one season. He had a record of 11-12 with an ERA of 4.82 during his time with the Orioles.
Benson's career was plagued by injuries, and he missed significant time due to various injuries, including a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. He underwent multiple surgeries throughout his career, which limited his playing time.
After his time with the Orioles, Benson signed with the Texas Rangers but did not play for the team due to injury. He then signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 but was released before the start of the season. Benson then signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2009 but did not play for the team due to injury.
Benson retired from baseball in 2011 with a career record of 70-75 and an ERA of 4.41. He had 759 strikeouts in 1189 innings pitched. Benson was known for his durability and his ability to pitch deep into games.
Off the field, Benson was known for his marriage to Anna Benson, a model and reality television personality. The couple had three children together but divorced in 2012.
In conclusion, Kris Benson was a talented pitcher who had a successful career in MLB despite being plagued by injuries. He played for several teams throughout his career and was known for his fastball and curveball. Benson retired from baseball in 2011 with a record of 70-75 and an ERA of 4.41.
⚾