Community, sacrifice, and hard work have always been the driving forces of professional baseball player Will Benson’s ambitions. Since he was first diagnosed with asthma at a young age, Benson’s parents thought that getting involved in sports year-round would help with his breathing. While he managed to dip his toes into these various athletic waters like soccer and swimming, his purpose rested between his love of basketball and his consistent work ethic in baseball. However, by the time Benson was about to enter the Westminster School in Atlanta, he’d been playing AAU basketball less due to the time constraints of playing more than one sport.
“It was very hard to go back and forth,” says Benson. “There was a point in time when I was doing AAU basketball, and I was doing travel baseball. Praise God for my hardworking, loving parents, but that’s a lot to keep up with.”
Benson knew he had to make a decision. He recognized the energy and skills he was developing in baseball and decided to continue with the sport.
“I saw the path… I saw my way to the big leagues in baseball,” he says.
As he recognized the scouts that were frequently in attendance at his games during high school, it was clear that a new path was being forged for Benson’s future.
“I was about to commit to Duke University, but I had an idea at that point that I was gonna be able to play professionally,” recalls Benson. By summer 2016, Major League Baseball had made Benson a first-round draft pick for the Cleveland Indians as an outfielder. Earlier this year, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.
Baseball is not the only field in which Benson is cultivating a legacy for himself, as his philanthropic efforts are what also keep the 25-year-old athlete motivated. As a pillar of the South Fulton community, Benson founded his nonprofit, Future Is Near, to provide a support system to the youth of Atlanta. From homeless prevention initiatives to donating baseball gear to kids who are active in the sport, Benson has made it his responsibility to provide aid for our future leaders and athletes of tomorrow in every capacity possible.
“Essentially, the mission of Future Is Near is to help where help is needed, especially when it comes to baseball,” says Benson. “It’s where my heart is.” These efforts were also recently recognized when Benson was inducted into the South Fulton Hall of Fame.
Benson is making continuous efforts to help makeover his first baseball field from childhood, Sandtown Park in the heart of #SoFu, and has emphasized his passion for this project to get started soon.
“I’ve stretched my brain, I’ve stretched my resources, I’ve stretched my connections as far as I can to get to this moment in redoing the field,” he declares. “I’ve got board members that are ready to work extensively on the programming to make it happen. I really want this for my community.”
Future Is Near is currently accepting monetary donations for clothes, food, equipment, and other resources for those in need in Atlanta.
For more information and to support the effort, visit futureisnear.org.
Here's Will's usual workout routine:
I work out every day of the week except Wednesday and the weekend.
A normal workout day consists of gym, cages, and then running.
Gym:
Usually, I execute a workout that strengthens my whole body. I go back and forth between upper and lower body exercises. Some of the exercises I perform target specific baseball movements. To conclude my workout, I'll do arm and core exercises.
Cages:
After I work out, I go to the batting cages to work on my craft.
Running:
After the cages, I will go to a park to complete my running drills. When I run, I focus on the technique to start with different drills to emphasize good running mechanics. To finish up, I'll complete some acceleration runs and sprints.
Work out 4-5 times a week in the weight room. Focus on mobility and range of motion as well. These two go hand and hand. You want to be strong and mobile.
On Nutrition: I would suggest staying away from the candy and no good snacks. You eat to fuel your body for performance. Our bodies are like the most expensive car that needs the highest quality gas. By eating well, you get the full benefit of your workout.