Watch: Benintendi records Red Sox 1st HR of season with 3-run blast
@ogp44 Aquí el saludo de Andrew Benintendi. pic.twitter.com/eir8p5mAO9
— #DoYourJob (@renucho) April 3, 2017
Andrew Benintendi's rookie campaign started off with a bang.
The Boston Red Sox outfielder's three-run home run landed him in the club's record books as the 22-year-old became the second youngest player to hit a home run on Opening Day since Mookie Betts (22 years old in 2015) and Tony Conigliaro (20 years old in 1965), according to Alex Speier of the Boston Globe.
The blast, which was off Pittsburgh Pirates starter Gerrit Cole, padded Boston's lead by five runs. Benintendi's home run came off a 97.7-mph fastball and, according to MLB.com's Daren Willman, the Red Sox only hit two home runs off pitches with faster velocity all of last season (David Ortiz 98.8 mph and Hanley Ramirez 99.3 mph).
Benintendi finished the day 1-for-4 with three RBIs, becoming the youngest player in franchise history with at least three RBIs on Opening Day, according to ESPN Stats and Info.