Juan Beníquez

Who is Juan Beníquez?

Juan José Beníquez Torres is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays. He batted and threw right-handed.

A valuable role player, Beníquez spent 17 seasons in the major leagues playing for eight different American League clubs. He started his career with the Boston Red Sox in 1971, appearing at shortstop in part of two seasons, and later was switched to center field. A Gold Glove Award winner with Texas in 1977, he posted four consecutive .300 seasons with California and Baltimore from 1983–86, with a career-high .336 in 1984, and hit three home runs in a game for the Orioles in 1986. He also had three post-season appearances, including the 1975 World Series with the Red Sox. Beníquez was a .274 hitter with 79 home runs and 476 runs batted in in 1500 games played.

Following his majors career, in 1989 Beníquez hit .359 while playing for the St. Lucie Legends in the Senior Professional Baseball Association.