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Will Benson elects free agency from Cincinnati Reds
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- Will Benson elects free agency from Cincinnati Reds
Elly De La Cruz is one stolen base away from becoming the fourth member of the Cincinnati Reds' 30-30 club.
Eric Davis became the first Reds player to join the 30-30 club in 1987.
Cincinnati Reds teammates Eric Davis, left, Dave Parker and Kal Daniels warming up before their exhibition game against Montreal Expos at Greer Stadium April 5, 1987.
(Ricky Rogers / The Tennessean)
APRIL 17, 1987: Kurt Stillwell, left, gets a high-five from Eric Davis while other Reds players line up to greet the young shortstop after hit his first major-league home run – a grand slam – in the fifth inning. Waiting their turn are Bo Diaz, Buddy Bell and Ron Oester.
(Dan Dulaney/The Enquirer)
APRIL 17, 1987: Umpire John McSherry calls the Reds' Eric Davis out at second on a first-inning steal attempt. Houston's Bill Doran tagged out Davis ending the Reds' consecutive stolen base streak at 15.
(Dan Dulaney/The Enquirer)
Barry Larkin became the second Red, and first shortstop in MLB history, to join the 30-30 club in 1996.
July 31, 1996: The Reds' Barry Larkin points to the crowd behind home plate after hitting a home run against the Astros Wednesday in the eighth inning.
(Saed Hindash/The Enquirer)
September 20, 1996: Cardinals infielder Ozzie Smith is honored before the game against the Reds at Cinergy Field. Reds infielder Barry Larkin holds a glass trophy while Marge Schott places a Schottzie baseball cap on Ozzie's head.
(Steven M. Herppich/The Enquirer)
September 22, 1996 Reds shortstop Barry Larkin is hugged by utility man Lenny Harris after Larkin homered against the Cardinals at Cinergy Field. Larkin is the first shortstop to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in major league history.
(Michael E. Keating/The Enquirer)
Sept. 22, 1996: Reds shortstop Barry Larkin acknowledges cheers after hitting his 30th homer of the season in the fifth inning of a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. Larkin is the first shortstop to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in major league history.
(The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating)
Brandon Phillips became the third Red to join the 30-30 club in 2007.
Cincinnati Reds batter Brandon Phillips (4) watches the ball as he hit a grand-slam home run in front of New York Mets catcher Paul LoDuca (R) in the first inning on July 13, 2007. Watching also from the dugout is manager Willie Randolph (L) and coach Rick Peterson.
(Ray Stubblebine, REUTERS)
Aug 1, 2007; Washington, DC, USA; Cincinnati Reds infielder Brandon Phillips steals third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) catches the ball while running after Phillips in the fourth inning at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.
(James Lang-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago Cubs Ryan Theriot (top) can't make the tag in time as Cincinnati Reds Brandon Phillips steals second base during the eighth inning in Chicago on Sept. 18, 2007.
(John Gress, REUTERS)
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips takes a curtain call after hitting his thirtieth home run of the year against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 26, 2007.
(The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) ties the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The Reds lost 5-1 in 10 innings.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) runs the bases on a lead-off solo home run in the first inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Athletics at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) steals second base in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. The Dodgers led 3-0 after three innings.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) runs the bases after hitting a homer in the third inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Elly De La Cruz is one stolen base away from becoming the fourth member of the Cincinnati Reds' 30-30 club.
1
/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Elly De La Cruz is one stolen base away from becoming the fourth member of the Cincinnati Reds' 30-30 club.
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Eric Davis became the first Reds player to join the 30-30 club in 1987.
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds teammates Eric Davis, left, Dave Parker and Kal Daniels warming up before their exhibition game against Montreal Expos at Greer Stadium April 5, 1987.
(Ricky Rogers / The Tennessean)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
APRIL 17, 1987: Kurt Stillwell, left, gets a high-five from Eric Davis while other Reds players line up to greet the young shortstop after hit his first major-league home run – a grand slam – in the fifth inning. Waiting their turn are Bo Diaz, Buddy Bell and Ron Oester.
(Dan Dulaney/The Enquirer)
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/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
APRIL 17, 1987: Umpire John McSherry calls the Reds' Eric Davis out at second on a first-inning steal attempt. Houston's Bill Doran tagged out Davis ending the Reds' consecutive stolen base streak at 15.
(Dan Dulaney/The Enquirer)
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/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Barry Larkin became the second Red, and first shortstop in MLB history, to join the 30-30 club in 1996.
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
July 31, 1996: The Reds' Barry Larkin points to the crowd behind home plate after hitting a home run against the Astros Wednesday in the eighth inning.
(Saed Hindash/The Enquirer)
8
/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
September 20, 1996: Cardinals infielder Ozzie Smith is honored before the game against the Reds at Cinergy Field. Reds infielder Barry Larkin holds a glass trophy while Marge Schott places a Schottzie baseball cap on Ozzie's head.
(Steven M. Herppich/The Enquirer)
9
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
September 22, 1996 Reds shortstop Barry Larkin is hugged by utility man Lenny Harris after Larkin homered against the Cardinals at Cinergy Field. Larkin is the first shortstop to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in major league history.
(Michael E. Keating/The Enquirer)
10
/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Sept. 22, 1996: Reds shortstop Barry Larkin acknowledges cheers after hitting his 30th homer of the season in the fifth inning of a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. Larkin is the first shortstop to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in major league history.
(The Enquirer/Michael E. Keating)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Brandon Phillips became the third Red to join the 30-30 club in 2007.
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds batter Brandon Phillips (4) watches the ball as he hit a grand-slam home run in front of New York Mets catcher Paul LoDuca (R) in the first inning on July 13, 2007. Watching also from the dugout is manager Willie Randolph (L) and coach Rick Peterson.
(Ray Stubblebine, REUTERS)
13
/19
Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Aug 1, 2007; Washington, DC, USA; Cincinnati Reds infielder Brandon Phillips steals third base as Washington Nationals third baseman Ryan Zimmerman (11) catches the ball while running after Phillips in the fourth inning at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.
(James Lang-USA TODAY Sports)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Chicago Cubs Ryan Theriot (top) can't make the tag in time as Cincinnati Reds Brandon Phillips steals second base during the eighth inning in Chicago on Sept. 18, 2007.
(John Gress, REUTERS)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips takes a curtain call after hitting his thirtieth home run of the year against the Houston Astros in the first inning at Great American Ball Park on Sept. 26, 2007.
(The Enquirer/Jeff Swinger)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) ties the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning of the MLB interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. The Reds lost 5-1 in 10 innings.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) runs the bases on a lead-off solo home run in the first inning of the MLB Interleague game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Athletics at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) steals second base in the first inning of the MLB National League game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026. The Dodgers led 3-0 after three innings.
(Sam Greene/The Enquirer)
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Elly De La Cruz on verge of newest 30-30 season in Reds history
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) runs the bases after hitting a homer in the third inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
Cincinnati Reds outfielder Will Benson opted to become a free agent on Oct. 1 according to the team's transactions log .
Benson was optioned to the Louisville Bats in June and was then designated for assignment on July 4 after the Reds activated Hunter Greene from the 60-day injured list.
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Benson played in just 51 games in his fourth season in Cincinnati, hitting .188 with three home runs and six RBIs.
Benson also struggled while at Louisville, batting .205 in 66 games with four home runs and 17 RBIs.
Benson was a first round pick out of high school by Cleveland in 2016. He played in 28 games for Cleveland in 2022 and was traded to the Reds in February 2023 in exchange for Justin Boyd and cash. Cincinnati also sent Steve Hajjar as a player to be named later.
Benson played in 377 games in four years in Cincinnati, hitting .223 with a .305 on-base percentage, 40 home runs, 45 doubles, 121 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Will Benson elects free agency from Cincinnati Reds
