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MLB Draft 2016: Cleveland Indians select OF Will Benson with No. 14 pick

Welcome to the Tribe, Will!

The Cleveland Indians have selected 1B/OF Will Benson out of The Westminster High Schools in Atlanta, Georgia with the 14th overall pick of the 2016 MLB Draft. Benson has a prior commitment to Duke University and could require a hefty signing bonus. If the Indians do get him signed and into the organization, they could have a very high-ceiling outfielder who draws comparisons to Jason Heyward and Jorge Soler.

Many thought that the Indians would jump at the chance to grab Blake Rutherford if he dropped to No. 14, but the Indians made a bit of a surprise pick with Benson. There was also a thought that Benson could slip as far out of the first round, but the Indians obviously were a fan of his athleticism.

Scouts love Benson's bat speed and he has a lot of power potential in his 6'5, 220-pound frame. He has the typical build of a right fielder (hence the Heyward comp), but depending on how he fills out into that big frame, he could also turn into a very athletic first baseman. As anyone who has watched the Indians' first base position prior to the Mike Napoli joining the team should know, athleticism at first base matters.

Assuming he signs with the Indians, Benson will join an already loaded outfield system with the likes of Bradley Zimmer, Clint Frazier set to debut soon and 25-year-old Tyler Naquin already making an impact at the major league level.