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Kristin James Benson (born November 7, 1974 in Superior, Wisconsin) was a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who plays for the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1997 to 2004 and for the New York Mets from 2004 to 2005. more...
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High School
Benson attended Sprayberry High School in Marietta, GA. Kristin James Benson graduated from Sprayberry High School in 1994 with honors.
College career
Benson attended Clemson University from 1993 to 1996. He won the Rotary Smith Award in 1996 and still holds many school pitching records. His teammates included fellow future major-leaguers Billy Koch and Matthew LeCroy both of whom played with him in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, USA where they won the bronze medal. He also was honored as the ACC Male Athlete of the Year in 1996.
Professional career
Benson was the first pick of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. His best season came in 2000 with Pittsburgh when he posted career bests in earned run average, strikeouts, innings pitched, and games pitched as well as his only double-digit strikeout games and his career-best three-hit complete game despite the fact that he is a groundball pitcher. After 2000, he needed Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2001 season. The New York Mets infamously acquired him near the trading deadline of the 2004 season. On January 21, 2006, Benson was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Jorge Julio and John Maine. Benson missed the entire 2007 season with a torn rotator cuff. The Orioles agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Steve Trachsel, who replaced Benson in their starting rotation, before being traded to the Chicago Cubs for minor league players. On November 1, 2007, the Orioles released him as a free agent by declining to pick up his $7.5 million option and by paying a $500,000 buyout.
Career Major League statistics
Through the 2005 season:
Pitching
Games started: 165;
Win-Loss: 57-61;
Complete games: 5;
Shutouts: 2;
Earned run average: 4.25;
WHIP: 1.37;
Strikeouts: 699;
Strikeouts per nine innings: 6.14;
Batting
Batting average: 40 hits in 307 at-bats (.130 average);
Runs: 22;
Doubles: 7;
Triples: 0;
Home runs: 1 (Off Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez);
RBI: 20;
Walks: 15;
Strikeouts: 123;
Stolen bases: never attempted;
Personal life
Kris is married to Anna Benson, who was a mildly controversial figure during Benson's New York years due to her public statements . The Bensons have 3 children and have founded the non-profit organization, Benson's Battalion.
Read more at Wikipedia.org
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