View source for Kris Benson

{{Short description|American baseball player (born 1974)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name=Kris Benson
|image=IMG 1934a Kris Benson.jpg
|caption=Benson pitching for the Orioles in 2006
|position=[[Pitcher]]
|birth_date={{Birth date and age|1974|11|7}}
|birth_place=[[Superior, Wisconsin]], U.S.
|bats=Right
|throws=Right
|debutleague=MLB
|debutdate=April 9
|debutyear=1999
|debutteam=Pittsburgh Pirates
|finalleague=MLB
|finaldate=April 28
|finalyear=2010
|finalteam=Arizona Diamondbacks
|statleague=MLB
|stat1label=[[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value=70–75
|stat2label=[[Earned run average]]
|stat2value=4.42
|stat3label=[[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value=806
|teams=
* [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] ({{mlby|1999}}–{{mlby|2000}}, {{mlby|2002}}–{{mlby|2004}})
* [[New York Mets]] ({{mlby|2004}}–{{mlby|2005}})
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] ({{mlby|2006}})
* [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2009}})
* [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] ({{mlby|2010}})
|highlights=
* [[Dick Howser Trophy]] (1996)
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]] }}
{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Baseball at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{MedalBronze | [[Baseball at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[United States national baseball team|Team]] }}
}}

'''Kristin James Benson''' (born November 7, 1974) is an American former [[Major League Baseball]] [[starting pitcher]] who played for several teams between 1999 and 2010.

A highly touted prospect, Benson was drafted [[List of MLB first overall draft choices|first overall]] by the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] in [[1996 Major League Baseball Draft|1996]].  He followed a strong rookie season in 1999 with an even stronger season in 2000, but those would prove to be the two best seasons of his career, as he underwent [[Tommy John surgery]] after the 2000 season.  He posted three more good seasons from 2004 to 2006 with the Pirates, the [[New York Mets]], and the [[Baltimore Orioles]], but then underwent [[rotator cuff]] surgery, after which he was never again an effective Major League pitcher.

==High school==
Benson was born in [[Superior, Wisconsin]]. His parents were baseball fans who chose names for each of their children that began with "K," a nod to the letter used as the scorecard designation for a [[strikeout]].<ref name="newyorker2005">Ross, Lillian. (January 7, 2009) [https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/06/06/050606ta_talk_ross The Home Team: Thy Pitcher’s Wife]. The New Yorker. Retrieved on 2011-03-12.</ref> Benson attended [[Sprayberry High School]] in [[Marietta, Georgia]] with future [[MLB All-Star]] [[Marlon Byrd]].

==College==
Benson attended [[Clemson University]] from 1993 to 1996. His teammates included fellow future major-leaguers [[Billy Koch]] and [[Matthew LeCroy]] both of whom played with him in the [[1996 Summer Olympics]] in [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia, USA]].  (Koch reported teammates referred to Benson as "The [[Messiah]]".){{citation needed|date=June 2022}}  In 1994, he played [[collegiate summer baseball]] for the [[Hyannis Mets]] of the [[Cape Cod Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capecodbaseball.org.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/2012website/archives/Current%20Year/All_Time_MLB_CCBL_Alumni.pdf |title=Major League Baseball Players From the Cape Cod League |publisher=capecodbaseball.org |access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> Benson went undefeated during the regular season of his junior year (14–0 with a 1.40 ERA) with 178 strikeouts in 142 innings pitched.<ref name="chicagotribune1996">{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-05-31-9605310042-story.html|title=CLEMSON'S BENSON NAMED COLLEGE PLAYER OF YEAR|website=Chicago Tribune|date=May 31, 1996 }}</ref>

Following this strong regular season, Benson led the Tigers to the NCAA postseason.  Though he pitched only one game in the Atlantic regional playoffs, the Tigers' ace earned all-tournament recognition with an outing in which he allowed only one hit, struck out eight, and walked but one batter.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/clem-m-basebl-notes.html |title=Clemson University Official Athletic Site - Baseball |access-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211929/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/archive/clem-m-basebl-notes.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  The victorious Tigers, starring Benson, Koch, outfielder and Regional [[Most valuable player|MVP]] Jerome Robinson, and all-tournament outfielder Gary Burnham, entered the 1996 [[College World Series]] on a three-year streak of number-one regional seeds.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>  The presence of Benson, the expected number one selection in the 1996 MLB amateur draft<ref name="chicagotribune1996"/> (held that year on the same week as the CWS) helped draw additional attention to the spring series, transforming it into what one then-Clemson sports information official remembered as the "Media World Series."<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061100aaa.html |title=Kris Benson And Billy Koch Were The Media's Center Of Attention In 1996 CWS - The Official Athletic Site of the Atlantic Coast Conference |access-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716220834/http://www.theacc.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/061100aaa.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  (Benson was, in fact, drafted by the Pirates during the team's trip to Omaha.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060500aaa.html |title=1996 College World Series Memories - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE |access-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211933/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060500aaa.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>)  Despite his stellar regular season, Benson subsequently dropped two postseason decisions as the Tigers stumbled to a 2-2 CWS record.  Nonetheless, the team's two victories ended an eight-game CWS losing streak for Clemson and included a win over top-ranked Alabama.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060500aaa.html |title= 1996 College World Series Memories - CLEMSON UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE|website=clemsontigers.cstv.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211933/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/060500aaa.html |archive-date=July 8, 2011}}</ref>

Subsequently, Benson was named College Baseball's Player of the Year, only the second (after fellow future major leaguer and Olympian [[Ben McDonald]]) to be so honored on the strength of his pitching alone.<ref name="chicagotribune1996"/>  As a Tiger, he won the Baseball America Player of the Year, and ACC Player of the Year.  The pitcher also became only the second baseball player and first Clemson athlete in any sport to be named the [[ACC Athlete of the Year|ACC Male Athlete of the Year]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{Cite web |url=http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/benson_kris00.html |title=Player Bio: Kris Benson - Clemson University Official Athletic Site |access-date=March 15, 2011 |archive-date=July 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708211945/http://clemsontigers.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/benson_kris00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Other awards for his collegiate career include the [[Rotary Smith Award]] and ABCA Player of the Year, and recognition as unanimous consensus first-team All-American.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} He was also the recipient of the [[Dick Howser Trophy]] for his "performance, character, leadership, and courage".<ref>[http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/awards/howser/index.html NCBWA > Awards > Dick Howser Trophy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126190144/http://www.sportswriters.net/ncbwa/awards/howser/index.html |date=November 26, 2010 }}. Sportswriters.net. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.</ref> He has also been inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 2005 and the South Carolina Amateur Hall of Fame. In 2003, he was named to the ACC's 50-Year Anniversary baseball team.<ref name="autogenerated2"/>  A marketing student, Benson left Clemson prior to receiving his degree.<ref name="nytimes1996">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/08/12/sports/pirates-give-benson-hefty-signing-bonus.html?scp=15&sq=kris+benson&st=cse|title=Pirates Give Benson Hefty Signing Bonus (Published 1996)|website=[[The New York Times]] |date=August 12, 1996}}</ref>

==Olympics==
In the 1996 Olympics, Benson had 17 strikeouts in as many innings and a 2–1 record, but with a 5.82 [[Earned run average|ERA]].{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} Benson beat Nicaragua to open up the games and then Japan, but it was his single loss (11–2 to eventual silver medalist [[Japan]]) which proved costly. Benson lasted only four innings and surrendered five runs, and the bullpen gave up another six, en route to an 11–2 loss that kept the Americans from advancing to the [[gold medal]] game.<ref>Official Olympic Report, 1996 Atlanta (Vol. 3): pp. 116–125.</ref> (Ultimately, the U.S. settled for a [[bronze medal]], though this represented an improvement over the squad's failure to medal in 1992.)

==Professional baseball==
Benson was the [[List of MLB first overall draft choices|first pick]] of the [[1996 Major League Baseball Draft]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bensokr01.shtml|title=Kris Benson|publisher= Baseball-Reference.Com |access-date= December 21, 2012 }}</ref> After being signed for what was a then-record signing bonus,<ref name="nytimes1996"/> he spent two years in the minor leagues with the [[Lynchburg Hillcats]] and [[Carolina Mudcats]] in 1997, and the [[Nashville Sounds]] in 1998. Benson made his first major league start on April 9, 1999. He became just the second number one overall pick to win his big league debut. His first strikeout was [[Sammy Sosa]]. Benson came in fourth place in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He came up just shy of breaking the record for most strikeouts in team history by a rookie hurler. His best season came in {{MLB Year|2000}} with Pittsburgh when he posted career-highs in [[earned run average]], [[strikeout]]s, [[innings pitched]], and [[games pitched]] as well as his only double-digit strikeout games and his career-best three-hit [[complete game]] despite the fact that he is a groundball pitcher. That year, Benson broke the record for most strikeouts in Pirates history for a right-handed pitcher. After 2000, he needed [[Tommy John surgery]] and missed the entire {{MLB Year|2001}} season. He started the last game at Three Rivers Stadium and the first game ever at [[Great American Ball Park]]. Against the Mets, he broke the record for most sacrifice bunts in a game by a pitcher in MLB history with four.

On July 30, 2004, The Pirates traded him and [[Jeff Keppinger]] to The New York Mets for [[Jose Bautista]], [[Ty Wigginton]] and Matt Peterson. During that period, Benson put together a string of 70 consecutive innings without surrendering a home run. He was awarded the Mets Best Pitcher during the month of September that year with a 0.76 ERA.  He beat [[Randy Johnson]] twice in the inter league [[Subway Series]], throwing 12 innings of shutout baseball against the [[New York Yankees]].

On January 21, 2006, Benson was traded to the [[Baltimore Orioles]] for pitchers [[Jorge Julio]] and [[John Maine]]. Some speculated that the pitcher had been ushered out of town partly as an excuse for the Mets to part ways with his wife, outspoken model [[Anna Benson]], who had "perturbed team officials with her risqué wardrobe and provocative comments."<ref name="nytimes2006">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/05/sports/baseball-anna-benson-calls-off-the-divorce.html|title=BASEBALL; Anna Benson Calls Off The Divorce|work=The New York Times |date=April 5, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/23/sports/baseball/a-wife-trade-by-any-other-name.html|title=A Wife Trade by Any Other Name|first=Murray|last=Chass|work=The New York Times |date=January 23, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>  Kris Benson also felt that the Mets had traded him because of his wife,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=2396659|title=Changeup of heart: Anna Benson wants Kris back|date=April 4, 2006|website=ESPN.com}}</ref> a position disputed by Mets management.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/22/sports/baseball/benson-sent-to-baltimore-for-2-pitchers.html|title=Benson Sent to Baltimore for 2 Pitchers|first=Ben|last=Shpigel|work=The New York Times |date=January 22, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>  The newly minted Oriole beat the Mets that season in interleague play. During the game, he hit his first professional [[home run]] off All-Star and [[Cy Young Award]]-winner [[Pedro Martínez]].

Benson missed the entire {{MLB Year|2007}} season with a torn [[rotator cuff]].<ref>[http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6467752 MLB News, Videos, Scores, Standings, Stats, Teams, Players – FOX Sports on MSN] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070214064043/http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6467752 |date=February 14, 2007 }}. Msn.foxsports.com. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.</ref> [[Steve Trachsel]] replaced Benson in their starting rotation before being traded to the [[Chicago Cubs]] for minor league players. On November 1, 2007, the Orioles declined to pick up his $7.5 million option and instead paid a $500,000 buyout.

On February 13, {{Baseball year|2008}}, the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] signed Benson to a minor league deal.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mandel|first=Ken|title=Benson agrees to Minor League deal; Veteran right-hander hoping to be ready for Opening Day|date=February 13, 2008|work=MLB.com|url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080213&content_id=2371923&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080217195957/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080213&content_id=2371923&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 17, 2008|access-date=October 12, 2008}}</ref> On June 29, 2008, after two years away from competitive baseball, Benson made his Triple-A debut for the [[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]], throwing 73 pitches.<ref>[http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-cnpigs062908,0,7402012.story Topic Galleries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630183838/http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-cnpigs062908,0,7402012.story |date=June 30, 2008 }}. mcall.com. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.</ref> He played 11 games for the IronPigs, but was 1–4 with a 5.52 ERA. However, after two rough initial outings, he went 1–2 with a 3.80 ERA over his remaining 9 starts. He was released on August 30, 2008.

On February 21, {{Baseball year|2009}}, Benson signed a minor league contract with an invitation to [[spring training]] with the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3923816|title=Rangers sign Benson to minor league contract|date=February 21, 2009|website=ESPN.com}}</ref>  Benson made the Opening Day 25-man roster as one of the Rangers' starting pitchers, but after a short stint on the disabled list, he was relegated to the bullpen in long relief. Benson had made over 200 consecutive starts before the move to the bullpen. After proving ineffective as a sporadic reliever upon his return, he was outrighted to the Rangers' Triple-A affiliate, the [[Oklahoma City RedHawks]], on June 9, 2009.<ref>[http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/fantasy/wsfb/news/index.jsp?action=locate&pid=150249 The Rangers outrighted pitcher Kris Benson to Triple-A Oklahoma]</ref>

On March 15, {{Baseball year|2010}}, Benson signed a minor league contract with the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100322212135/http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100315&content_id=8797688&vkey=news_ari&fext=.jsp&c_id=ari Benson inked to Minor League deal | dbacks.com: News]. Arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com (March 15, 2010). Retrieved on 2011-03-12.</ref> On April 15, it was announced that Benson would be the fifth starter for [[Diamondbacks|Arizona]]. He had two effective starts when he first got called up, but injured his shoulder again during his third start against the [[Colorado Rockies]]. He also pitched for the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate in [[Reno, Nevada]], the [[Reno Aces]].

Before his injury Kris threw regularly in the 93-96&nbsp;mph range, and, he said, “I think I maxed out at 98. After surgery, I topped out at 90.” <ref>[https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/acc/clemson-university/article150689842.html Clemson University] (subscription required)</ref>

Benson retired on January 10, 2011.<ref>[http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/01/10/former-no-1-overall-pick-kris-benson-retires/ Former No. 1 overall pick Kris Benson retires | HardballTalk]. Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved on March 12, 2011.</ref> He finished his 10-year career with a 70–75 record in 200 starts (206 appearances) and 61 no-decisions.

==Personal life==
Benson lived in Superior, WI until age 6, before he moved with his family to Milledgeville, GA. In 1988, Benson then moved to Kennesaw, GA. He has two younger sisters and one younger brother. 

In 1998, while playing with the [[Nashville Sounds]] in the [[minor leagues]], he met his future wife, [[Anna Benson]] while she was working as a dancer in a local [[strip club]].<ref name="nytimes3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/27/sports/baseball/opposites-attract-attention.html|title=Opposites Attract Attention|first=Lee|last=Jenkins|work=The New York Times |date=February 27, 2005|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref> The Bensons were married in October 1999 (her second marriage, his first), the same year he reached the major leagues. The pitcher and model became a well-known baseball couple during Benson's time in the major leagues.  After Anna reported the couple had sex in the parking lot of [[Three Rivers Stadium]], an experience they wished to replicate at every major league park, concern developed within the Pirates organization the "wild-eyed brunette was getting in the way of her husband's fastball...."<ref name="nytimes3"/> Her husband dismissed the Pirates treatment of his wife as "a lot of jealousy and a lot of pettiness...."'<ref name="nytimes3"/>  Anna filed for [[divorce]] on March 31, 2006, citing an "irretrievably broken" marriage.,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/baseball-wife-anna-benson-files-for-divorce|work=Fox News|title=Baseball Wife Anna Benson Files for Divorce|date=March 31, 2006}}</ref> although later withdrew the petition.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> They had three children together (daughter Haylee, and sons P.J. and Devin James) and were also parenting Anna Benson's daughter from her first marriage (Alyssa Warren). In July 2012, Kris filed for divorce, which was finalized later that year.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Calcaterra |first1=Craig |title=End of a fairytale: Kris and Anna Benson are getting divorced |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/end-of-a-fairytale-kris-and-anna-benson-are-getting-divorced#:~:text=Anna%20Benson%2C%20star%20of%20VH1's,Kris%20was%20my%20whole%20life. |publisher=[[NBC Sports]] |access-date=November 24, 2023 |date=July 19, 2012}}</ref> On July 7, 2013, Anna was arrested for attacking Kris after breaking into his house. She was convicted on charges of aggravated assault and gun possession for the attack and sentenced to 15 years probation and three months of inpatient psychiatric therapy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Garner |first1=Marcus |title=Anna Benson pleads guilty in attack on estranged husband and ex-big league pitcher Kris Benson |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/anna-benson-pleads-guilty-attack-estranged-husband-and-big-league-pitcher-kris-benson/4wW0eVPEzaalErYWUwD4iJ/ |publisher=[[The Atlanta Journal-Constitution]] |access-date=November 24, 2023 |date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> In May 2022, Kris married Misty Martinez, former wife of his former teammate [[Hank Blalock]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/KrisBenson34/posts/pfbid0JxoBufZ6jB1GrSWAAAYuk6SdcsSQRAfbU4nQo5LU9VL5tfbXhZZs5e5psT3x1mFsl?__cft__[0]=AZW8va-Pe_zJWXnZQvAAAVb8rU68WXXlScmI3u6xTA-OaC4MuoXMW4HRlcgYk2oKu6ULtMFgJTNRyxc-eHzRlgJtxWOpIW0zwfQjW5-2bbesoDUjfxBxGONUeMwYDU74NF2Kps6XHmkt0tTsg2e5MJ9clPZR36x9IWRoNmysc2Yosg&__tn__=*F |title=Yesterday, I officially swept her off her feet! |website=[[Facebook]] |access-date=November 24, 2023 |date=May 6, 2022}}</ref>

Benson, who earned over $38 million during his playing career,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bensokr01.shtml|title=Kris Benson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref> has supported several charities since beginning his professional career.  (In an interview on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'' Anna Benson explained that at least one of her husband's contracts had been structured with charitable contributions so that this income could not be taxed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://store.soliscompany.com/anbeinwiofne.html |title=Anna Benson Interview - Wife of New York Met's Pitcher Kris Benson |access-date=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716102942/http://store.soliscompany.com/anbeinwiofne.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>)  In 2001, after [[9/11]], the couple founded the [[non-profit organization]] Benson's Battalion, whose work then-Rep. [[Melissa Hart (politician)|Melissa Hart]] praised in a citation to the [[Congressional Record]] in 2004. The Battalion raised funds for emergency services in the wake of 9/11. They also made considerable contributions to the Red Cross and United Way for 9/11 relief. In 2005, Benson assisted in a new charity, while with the New York Mets, called Tuesday's Children. The charity helped children who lost a parent during the Twin Tower collapses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2004-12-24/Sports/121.html |title=Anna and the Mets: Benson Excited About N.Y. |access-date=March 16, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403011703/http://www.rockawave.com/news/2004-12-24/Sports/121.html |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>  In recognition of various community service and charity efforts, Benson has been honored with the Pittsburgh Pirates team Roberto Clemente Award, the Thurman Munson Award, the Joan Payson Award, and the New Jersey Sports Writers Humanitarian of the Year Award.

The son of a school teacher and college dean,<ref name="nytimes3"/> Benson had been described as studious and methodical in his approach to pitching,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bensokr01|title=Kris Benson Baseball Stats &#124; Baseball Almanac|website=www.baseball-almanac.com}}</ref> personally reserved,<ref name="nytimes3"/> and, in comparison to his ex-wife, strait-laced and stoic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/sports/baseball/18mets.html|title=In Return Engagement, Bensons Steal the Show|first=Lee|last=Jenkins|work=The New York Times |date=June 18, 2006|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{commons category}} 
{{Portal|Biography|Baseball}}
{{baseballstats|mlb=150249|espn=4006|br=b/bensokr01|fangraphs=982|brm=benson001kri|retro=B/Pbensk001}}
*[https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=bensokr01 Kris Benson] at Baseball Almanac
*[http://www.krisbenson.com/ Official Website]

{{MLB Number One Draft Picks}}
{{1996 College Baseball Consensus All-Americans}}
{{1996 MLB Draft}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates first-round draft picks}}
{{Dick Howser Trophy}}
{{Rotary Smith Award}}
{{ABCA National Player of the Year Award}}
{{Baseball America CollegePOY}}
{{Collegiate Baseball POY}}
{{ACC Male Athlete of the Year}}
{{Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Player of the Year navbox}}
{{Pittsburgh Pirates Opening Day starting pitchers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Benson, Kris}}
[[Category:1974 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Pirates players]]
[[Category:New York Mets players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles players]]
[[Category:Texas Rangers players]]
[[Category:Arizona Diamondbacks players]]
[[Category:Baseball players at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Douglas County, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Clemson Tigers baseball players]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in baseball]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Marietta, Georgia]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Superior, Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Hyannis Harbor Hawks players]]
[[Category:Lynchburg Hillcats players]]
[[Category:Carolina Mudcats players]]
[[Category:Nashville Sounds players]]
[[Category:Altoona Curve players]]
[[Category:St. Lucie Mets players]]
[[Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players]]
[[Category:21st-century American sportsmen]]
[[Category:Clearwater Threshers players]]
[[Category:Frisco RoughRiders players]]
[[Category:Oklahoma City RedHawks players]]
[[Category:Reno Aces players]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in baseball]]
[[Category:All-American college baseball players]]