Ben Revere facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Revere |
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Revere with the Washington Nationals in 2016
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 3, 1988 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 7, 2010, for the Minnesota Twins | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 1, 2017, for the Los Angeles Angels | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .284 | ||
| Home runs | 7 | ||
| Runs batted in | 198 | ||
| Stolen bases | 211 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Ben Daniel Revere, born on May 3, 1988, is a former American baseball player. He was an Outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Ben played for teams like the Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Angels.
Ben was a great baseball player in high school. He won many awards. The Minnesota Twins picked him in the first round of the 2007 baseball draft. He played in their minor league teams for three years. Then, he joined the Major League in 2010.
Ben played for the Twins for two more seasons. After that, he was traded to the Phillies in 2012. He was known for his amazing speed and strong defense. He didn't hit many Home runs, only seven in his MLB career. People often described Ben as a fun, energetic, and real person.
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Ben Revere's Early Life
Ben Revere was born in Atlanta and grew up in LaGrange, Georgia. In the early 2000s, his family moved to Richmond, Kentucky. He went to Lexington Catholic High School from 2003 to 2007.
In 2006, during his junior year, Ben helped his high school baseball team win a state championship. He was named the most valuable player. After his senior year, he received many honors. These included the Gatorade Kentucky Baseball Player of the Year award. He was also named 2007 Mr. Baseball for Kentucky.
The Minnesota Twins chose him in the first round of the 2007 Major League Baseball draft. He was the 28th player picked overall. Ben signed with the Twins soon after. He had planned to play college baseball at Georgia before being drafted.
Ben Revere's Baseball Career
Playing in the Minor Leagues
After being drafted, Ben started playing for the Gulf Coast League Twins. In his first professional season, he had a .325 batting average. He was named a Postseason All-Star for the Gulf Coast League in 2007.
The next year, he played for the Beloit Snappers. His batting average went up to .379. He also stole 44 stolen bases and hit ten triples. Ben won many awards for his great playing. He was named the Midwest League Most Valuable Player. Baseball America also called him the Twins' second-best young player.
In 2009, Ben played for the Fort Myers Miracle. He batted .342 in the first half of the season. He also stole 22 bases. He didn't make any errors all season while playing in the outfield. He finished the season with a .311 batting average.
Before the 2010 season, Baseball America ranked him as the Twins' fifth-best young player. Ben started the 2010 season with the New Britain Rock Cats. He was named the Twins' minor league player of the month in May. He hit .336 that month. After hitting .305 with 36 stolen bases during the season, the Twins called him up to the Major Leagues.
Playing for the Minnesota Twins
Ben made his first Major League appearance on September 7, 2010. He came in as a pinch hitter. He got his first Major League run batted in (RBI) on September 18, 2010. He scored J. J. Hardy in a game. He got his first Major League hit the very next day.
Ben started the 2011 season with the Twins' minor league team, the Rochester Red Wings. He was called up to the Twins in May to play left field. This happened when another player, Delmon Young, was injured. Later, when Denard Span was injured, Ben got to play another position.
In late 2012, Ben had a great 21-game hitting streak. This was his best streak ever. He finished the 2012 season playing 124 Major League games. He had a .294 batting average. He hit no home runs but had 32 RBIs.
Playing for the Philadelphia Phillies
On December 6, 2012, Ben was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phillies traded Vance Worley and Trevor May to get him. Ben was chosen to be the Phillies' leadoff hitter for the 2013 season. This was because he played very well during spring training.
The Phillies' General Manager, Rubén Amaro Jr., was happy to have Ben. He said Ben's defense and speed were very important for the team. He also said Ben was an athletic player with great energy.
On April 15, 2013, the day of the Boston Marathon bombing, Ben showed his support. He wrote "Pray for Boston" on tape and put it on his glove. A photographer took a picture of his glove. Ben said his phone was "ringing off the hook" with thanks for his gesture. He felt it was important to play for the people in Boston.
Soon after, Ben made an amazing catch with that same glove. He jumped and dove to catch a ball. This stopped Todd Frazier from getting an extra base hit.
Ben got an injury to his leg early in the season. He missed several games. He came back on May 3, his 25th birthday. He also injured his elbow in a game on May 27. He jammed it into a fence. Luckily, X-rays showed it was not serious.
By the end of May, Ben was back hitting at the top of the batting order. He had two hits in a game on June 3. He also stole two bases. He said he was "finding my stroke" and trying not to put pressure on himself.
On July 13, Ben broke his foot when a foul ball hit him. He had surgery on July 16. He missed the rest of the 2013 season. He finished with a .305 batting average, 0 home runs, 17 RBIs, and 22 stolen bases.
Ben started the 2014 season healthy. He was the main center fielder for the Phillies. Many people thought the Phillies won the trade that brought Ben to Philadelphia. The players the Twins got in return did not do as well. Ben became a strong everyday center fielder.
On April 1, 2014, Ben set a new MLB record. He had the most times at bat without hitting a home run (1,410) for a non-pitcher. He later hit his first MLB home run on May 27, 2014. This was in his 1,466th time at bat. It was the longest streak without a home run to start a career since 1977.
On September 5, Ben hit his second career home run. He was also competing for the National League batting title. In 151 games in 2014, Ben hit .306. He led the National League with 184 hits. He also had 49 stolen bases, two home runs, and 28 RBIs. On October 1, 2014, Ben had surgery on his right ankle.
In 2015, Ben played some time in left field during spring training. This was because another player, Odubel Herrera, played in center field. His manager thought Ben's arm might be better suited for left field. In 96 games with the Phillies, Ben batted .298. He had 24 stolen bases, 1 home run, and 26 RBIs.
Playing for the Toronto Blue Jays
On July 31, 2015, Ben was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays. He struggled a bit at first with the Blue Jays. But he soon got back to playing well. He made several amazing catches in left field. He also had a 9-game hitting streak in August. During those games, he batted .514. He played in 56 games for the Blue Jays in 2015. He batted .319 with 1 home run, 19 RBIs, and 7 stolen bases.
The Blue Jays finished the season strong. They won their division and made it to the playoffs for the first time in 22 years. In the playoffs, Ben batted .256 with 2 stolen bases.
Playing for the Washington Nationals
On January 8, 2016, Ben was traded to the Washington Nationals. He was placed on the injured list on April 6. This was after he strained his right side in the first game of the season. He batted .217 for the 2016 season. After the season, the Nationals decided not to offer him a new contract. This made him a free agent.
Playing for the Los Angeles Angels
On December 23, 2016, Ben signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He started the 2017 season as the team's fourth outfielder. But after some changes, Ben became the main left fielder. In 109 games, Ben hit .275. He also had 1 home run and 21 stolen bases.
Later Career
Ben signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds in 2018. He was released a month later. He then signed another minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He was released by them in July 2018.
In 2019, Ben signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. He was released in March. He then signed with the Toronto Blue Jays again in April. He was released by them in May.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ben played for the Lexington Legends. This was because the minor league season was canceled.
Player-Coach Role
On May 18, 2021, Ben was named the hitting coach for the Lexington Legends. This team is now part of an independent league. On July 31, 2021, the team also activated him as a player. In his first game back, he got two hits, a triple, and 2 RBIs. He did not return to the team after that season. In 25 games, he hit .300 with 14 RBIs and 1 stolen base.
Coaching Career
On February 17, 2023, it was announced that Ben Revere would join the Florida Complex League Braves. This is a rookie-level team for the Atlanta Braves. He became a coach for them for the 2023 season.
How Ben Revere Played
Offense (Hitting)
Ben's former teammate, Denard Span, said Ben could "change games with his speed." He was always "looking to steal second and third" base. Ben was a slap hitter. This means he focused on making contact and getting on base. He didn't hit many home runs. It took him 1,466 times at bat to hit his first home run. This was the longest streak since 1977.
Ben was good at hitting pitches on the lower-outside part of the plate. He hit left-handed and right-handed pitchers equally well. Experts noted that he made "excellent line-drive contact" and was a good leadoff hitter. His speed was also a big advantage.
Defense (Fielding)
Ben was an excellent defensive player. He had great range in the outfield because of his speed. FanGraphs called him an "elite" defensive player. Even when he wasn't hitting well, his defense kept him in the game. He was very good at covering ground in the outfield. However, his arm was not very strong. This meant he sometimes struggled to throw runners out.
Ben Revere's Personal Life
Ben Revere is known for his high energy on the field. He has a "genuine, charismatic personality." Ben says his personality comes from how he was raised. He always tries to be "goofy" and keep things fun. His former teammate, Denard Span, agreed that Ben was "goofy" and a "real good teammate."
Ben is a very religious person. He is a Christian. He says he prays every night and reads his Bible weekly. Ben also enjoys history. He said he wanted to explore museums and historical sites in Philadelphia when he wasn't so focused on baseball.
Images for kids
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Revere with the Washington Nationals in 2016
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Revere on deck for Rochester Red Wings in April 2011
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Revere with the Minnesota Twins in 2012
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Revere playing for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2014
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Revere with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2015
