As the Reds geared up to resume the MLB Speedway Classic on Sunday, they announced that one of their core roster members would be heading back down to the minor leagues for the third time this season.Will Benson, a 27-year-old outfielder and Atlanta native who has been with the team since 2023, will be immediately returning to the Reds’ Triple AAA affiliate, the Louisville Bats, effective immediately.This will be his third time being back in Louisville this season. Benson started the 2025 season with the Bats, before later promoted back up to the Reds’ roster for a singular appearance during the team’s series against the San Francisco Giants, where he struck out all four times he was at bat.He was then returned to Louisville, before being permanently promoted back up to the Reds’ roster in early May. Benson then almost immediately came roaring back at the plate, hitting five home runs in the span of just four games as the team faced off against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox in May.Now in August, the MLB trade deadline has come and gone, with the Reds acquiring multiple new players over the past few weeks such as Miguel Andujar, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Zack Littell.However, it is the acquisition of Andujar in particular who appears to have been the final straw for Benson’s playing time. Miguel Andujar plays as a left fielder, the same position typically played by Benson. And Andujar made his very brief Reds debut in the outfield in Bristol, Tennessee during the Speedway Classic on Saturday, before the game got rained out.Andujar was acquired from the Athletics for right-handed pitcher Kenya Huggins in a last-minute trade on July 31, the final day of MLB’s trade window for the 2025 season.Additionally, in addition to the Benson move, the Reds announced that they would be promoting Lyon Richardson from the Bats as a relief pitcher for the remainder of the Speedway Classic game.The game resumes at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Bristol Motor Speedway.
As the Reds geared up to resume the MLB Speedway Classic on Sunday, they announced that one of their core roster members would be heading back down to the minor leagues for the third time this season.
Will Benson, a 27-year-old outfielder and Atlanta native who has been with the team since 2023, will be immediately returning to the Reds’ Triple AAA affiliate, the Louisville Bats, effective immediately.
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This will be his third time being back in Louisville this season. Benson started the 2025 season with the Bats, before later promoted back up to the Reds’ roster for a singular appearance during the team’s series against the San Francisco Giants, where he struck out all four times he was at bat.
He was then returned to Louisville, before being permanently promoted back up to the Reds’ roster in early May. Benson then almost immediately came roaring back at the plate, hitting five home runs in the span of just four games as the team faced off against the Cleveland Guardians and Chicago White Sox in May.
Now in August, the MLB trade deadline has come and gone, with the Reds acquiring multiple new players over the past few weeks such as Miguel Andujar, Ke’Bryan Hayes, and Zack Littell.
However, it is the acquisition of Andujar in particular who appears to have been the final straw for Benson’s playing time. Miguel Andujar plays as a left fielder, the same position typically played by Benson. And Andujar made his very brief Reds debut in the outfield in Bristol, Tennessee during the Speedway Classic on Saturday, before the game got rained out.
Andujar was acquired from the Athletics for right-handed pitcher Kenya Huggins in a last-minute trade on July 31, the final day of MLB’s trade window for the 2025 season.
Additionally, in addition to the Benson move, the Reds announced that they would be promoting Lyon Richardson from the Bats as a relief pitcher for the remainder of the Speedway Classic game.
The game resumes at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Bristol Motor Speedway.