Anfernee Benítez

Anfernee Jesús Benítez Torres

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 1", Weight 180-210 lb.

• Born July 24, 1995 in Aguadulce, Coclé Panama

BR register page

Biographical Information

Anfernee Benítez has pitched as high as AAA. He has led minor league in wins and strikeouts.

He was signed by Arizona Diamondbacks scout Jose Diaz Perez in February 2012 and made his pro debut that summer with the DSL Diamondbacks, going 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA. The next year, he was in the US, going 3-4 with a save and a 3.74 ERA for the AZL Diamondbacks. Returning to the same team the next year, he had a 2-5, 3.38 record. He tied for 5th in the Arizona League in losses.

The left-hander was 3-6 with a 4.75 ERA for the 2015 Missoula Osprey but struck out 78 batters in 66 1/3 innings. He led the Pioneer League in strikeouts (11 ahead of Jose Lopez) and K/9 ratio, tied for second in losses and was 9th in ERA (between Bo Takahashi and Jose Rodriguez. With the '16 Hillsboro Hops, he improved to 7-5, 3.48 and fanned 71 in 72 1/3 IP though he threw 15 wild pitches. He led the Northwest League lead in wins, was third in whiffs (behind Will Headean and Tyler Mark), was second in ERA (.64 behind Patrick Murphy) and tied Melvin Adon for second in wild pitches. He joined Murphy, Dylan Cease, Joey Lucchesi and Manuel Rondon as the NWL All-Star pitchers. Rondon beat him out for Pitcher of the Year.

Benítez bounced around the D'backs system in 2017, appearing for four teams: the Reno Aces (3 R in 3 1/3 IP), Visalia Oaks (0 R in 1 1/3 IP), Kane County Cougars (0-1, Sv, 2.03 in 11 G) and Hillsboro (0-1, 4.50 in 10 G) while moving to relief. He then pitched for the Panamanian national team that won the Silver Medal in the 2017 Central American Games. In his first game, he relieved Abraham Atencio Jr. and closed out a three-hit whitewash of the Honduran national team by getting the final out. Things did not go as well against El Salvador; he took over for Luis Ramos in the 6th and allowed two hits, a walk and two runs while retiring no one before Jean Corpas relieved; Panama rallied to avoid an upset.