Drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 22nd round with the 657th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft.
2017: ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA Third-team All-American ... First-team ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA all-region honoree … PBC Pitcher of the Year … First-team all-conference selection … PBC Pitcher of the Week May 8 … Set a single-season school record for strikeouts (135), innings pitched (116.1) and wins (11) … Worked five scoreless innings, striking out five while giving up just three hits to pick up the victory over Lincoln Memorial … Had two hits, one RBI and scored a pair of runs, including the game-winner, in the series finale victory over LMU … Struck out four while throwing two scoreless frames in the victory at Wingate … Tossed 6.1 innings, striking out six en route to earning the win over the Rams … Struck out 12 in seven innings of work in the second game of the series against the Trojans … Worked 6.2 frames, striking out eight, to get the victory over the Mountain Lions … Tossed seven innings, striking out 10 while giving up just two runs in the win over the Pirates … Stifled No. 1 Nova Southeastern by tossing 7.1 frames, striking out nine, in the 11-3 victory … Worked 1.1 scoreless frames in the win at North Greenville … Struck out 10 batters over eight innings in the win at Lander … Tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out eight in the series-opening victory over Flagler … Worked seven innings, giving up one earned run, en route to the victory over Augusta … Struck out 10 batters while giving up just one run over eight frames in the series-opening victory over Francis Marion … Worked seven innings, striking out seven, to pick up the victory at Montevallo … Struck out eight while throwing just 65 pitches in the win over Chowan … Pitched seven innings, striking out 10, en route to the win over Catawba … Struck out four in 2.2 innings of work against Catawba in the NCAA Tournament.
Previous School: Attended Old Dominion.
2016: Held a 4.26 ERA in 20 appearances and four starts ... Pitched in 44.1 innings and ranked sixth on the team with 26 strikeouts, including a career high five at LA Tech ... Named to the C-USA Commisioner's Honor Roll.
2015: 18 appearances ... Eight starts ... Picked up save vs. W&M ... Fanned four in a game vs. Rice and ECU.
2014: Pitched in 10 games ... Picked up a win vs. ECU in relief.
High School: Attended Archbishop H.S. First team All-State, All-County and ALL MIAA ... He fanned 72 batters in 50 innings of work ... Compiled a 9-5 combined pitching record for 2011-2012 ... Struck out 55 in 51.1 innings pitched in 2012 ... Helped lead Archbishop Spalding to the 2011 Maryland State Championship with a 21-3 record.
Personal: Joseph Benitez was born Apr. 17, 1995 in Crofton, Md. … Son of Rich and Lisa Benitez … Has a younger brother, Nick … Majoring in psychology.
