Sam Benschoter

Samuel Adam Benschoter (born March 17, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is currently a phantom ballplayer, having spent three days on the Reds' active roster without appearing in a game.

Sam Benschoter
Benschoter with the Louisville Bats in 2025
Cincinnati Reds – No. 63
Pitcher
Born: (1998-03-17) March 17, 1998 (age 27) Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Bats: Left Throws: Right

Career

Benschoter attended Tecumseh High School in Tecumseh, Michigan, and Michigan State University, where he played college baseball for the Michigan State Spartans.^[1]

Benschoter signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an undrafted free agent on August 1, 2021,^[2] and split his first professional season between the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Reds and Single-A Daytona Tortugas. He split the 2022 season between the ACL Reds, Daytona, the High-A Dayton Dragons, and Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. In 22 appearances (17 starts) for the four affiliates, Benschoter compiled a 4–6 record and 4.73 ERA with 118 strikeouts over 78 innings of work.^[3]

Benschoter made 27 starts for Double-A Chattanooga in 2023, struggling to a 7–12 record and 7.28 ERA with 140 strikeouts across 123+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[4] He split the 2024 season between Chattanooga and the Triple-A Louisville Bats, registering a combined 4–5 record and 4.33 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 104 innings of work across 33 games (11 starts).^[5] Benschoter played for the United States national baseball team in the 2024 WBSC Premier12.^[6]

On July 1, 2025, Benschoter was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[7] He was optioned to the Triple-A Louisville Bats on July 4, without making an appearance for the Reds.^[8]

Personal life

Benschoter's father, Adam, also played professional baseball.^[2]