One Reds player is quietly gearing up for a Noelvi Marte-type return

The Cincinnati Reds might be quietly building a reputation for second chances — and outfielder Will Benson is trying to cash in on his.

Just look at Reds third baseman Noelvi Marte. Once buried under the weight of high expectations and an 80-game PED suspension, Marte has since fought his way back into the Reds' starting lineup and is beginning to flash the promise that made him a centerpiece in the Luis Castillo trade back in 2022. Now, another former top prospect is trying to walk similar steps between disappointment and redemption.

Benson finds himself in familiar territory, now back with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Bats. After a brief and frustrating stint with the big league club earlier this season — where he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in his lone game — Benson has since re-focused and reasserted himself in a big way in Louisville.

Will Benson aims to follow Noelvi Marte’s blueprint back to the Reds roster

Through 25 games with Louisville, Benson is slashing .283/.366/.515 with five home runs, 23 RBI, and four stolen bases. His .8881 OPS reflects not just improvement, but real impact — the kind of performance that makes you wonder how long the Reds can afford to keep him in Triple-A.

It’s the continuation of a career arc that has been equal parts electric and erratic. Across eight seasons in the minors, Benson has piled up 102 home runs and 101 stolen bases — still hinting at untapped potential. But those bursts of brilliance have often been overshadowed by strikeouts and continued stretches of inconsistency.

Still, 2025 may be Benson’s best window yet. The Reds' outfield picture remains fluid, especially with performance questions cropping up across the roster. With Benson showing improved plate discipline and the ability to hit for both power and average, he’s making as strong a case as ever for a recall.

It might be too early to say whether Benson can permanently shed the Quad-A label that sticks to players on the fringe. But if his production in Louisville is any indication, he’s rewriting the narrative one at-bat at a time.

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