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Red Sox optimistic Benintendi will return this season

Bob DeChiara / USA TODAY Sports

The Boston Red Sox and Andrew Benintendi are both breathing huge sighs of relief.

The highly-touted rookie was officially diagnosed with a sprained knee Friday, two days after he suffered the injury while running the bases in Tampa Bay. An MRI taken Thursday revealed no structural damage to the knee, giving the Red Sox hope that the 22-year-old can make a return this season.

"The more I walk on it, the better I feel the last few days," Benintendi said Friday, according to Tim Britton of the Providence Journal. "We're just going to take it day by day and see how it feels. Take it slow and I'll be back out there when I'm healthy."

Skipper John Farrell is relieved his young outfielder only suffered a sprained knee in the injury, leaving the door open for September return.

"This could have been much worse," Farrell said.

Benintendi, the seventh overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft, has posted a .324/.365/.485 line over 21 big-league games since being called up after the trade deadline. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list Thursday afternoon.

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