Benjamin puts baseball career on hold to finish his degree

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Casey Benjamin was just getting a career in professional baseball underway, playing in the minor leagues for the Texas Rangers, when he put everything on hold to return to Tennessee Tech University to finish his degree.

Earlier this month, the shortstop from Minnesota, was one of approximately 600 students whose diplomas were presented by University President Bob Bell. "We are proud of Casey for his success as a baseball player, and now he has reached a successful conclusion to his academic career at Tennessee Tech as well," said Bell. "We are equally proud of him for that accomplishment. He exemplifies our student-athletes through his hard work and commitment to earning a college degree."

Benjamin had his most successful semester at Tech, producing a 3.73 grade point average during the fall semester. He was enrolled in Tech's LIST program, with a double emphasis on Psychology and Health & Physical Education.

"Finishing his degree was important to Casey and we applaud him for setting graduation as a top priority," said Mark Wilson, TTU Director of Athletics. "He was establishing a career in baseball but he also realized the importance of earning this degree. He understands that it's something that will really prove valuable when his baseball career is finished."

Benjamin grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, recognized more as the title of a hit movie than for producing big league baseball players. He developed his skills on the diamond at West Fargo High School.

After his family moved to Hermantown, Minnesota, on the outskirts of Duluth, Casey enrolled at Iowa Western Community College. After a promising freshman season, he broke his leg early in his sophomore year and took a medical redshirt.

Upon graduation from IWCC in 2001, the 6-foot-2 shortstop paid a visit to Tech's campus.

"Tech showed some interest in me, so I made a visit and was really impressed by the school," Benjamin said. He enrolled as a business major and began an award-winning three-year playing career.

Benjamin helped the Golden Eagles capture the OVC tournament title in 2001 and advance to the NCAA Knoxville Regional, where his eighth inning home run lifted Tech to a first-round victory over 16th ranked Wake Forest.

In 2002 and 2003, Benjamin was voted to the all-Ohio Valley Conference team before singing a free agent contract with the Rangers. As a senior, he ranked among national leaders when he hit .418, and also topped the team in runs, hits and doubles.

He was named Tech's Outstanding Male Athlete for 2003.

His professional career began in the second half of the season with the Spokane (Wash.) Indians, where he hit .372 in August and helped clinch the Division title and capture the Northwest League championship.

After going through Spring Training in Arizona, Benjamin was assigned to the Clinton (Iowa) Lumber Kings for the 2004 and 2005 seasons.

During the off-season, he was back in Cookeville to visit friends and met new TTU Director of Athletics Mark Wilson during a basketball game.

"Mark Wilson really had a lot to do with me coming back to finish my degree," said Benjamin by phone while back home in northern Minnesota for the holidays. "He asked me when if I planned to graduate, and I told him it was probably too
expensive. I didn't have any plans to return, at least until after baseball.

"He suggested I apply for an NCAA scholarship and I got it."

Tech's LIST program is interdisciplinary, allowing Benjamin to utilize the credits he had earned in both the business and education major, and combine them into his degree.

"I'm really happy that I came back," he said. "It gets that out of the way and I can go back to concentrate on playing ball. It will open some doors for me. Someday I'll be finished playing ball and I'd like to go back to graduate school.

"Having my degree from Tech will eliminate a lot of worries about when and how I would have gotten finished," he said.

Late next month, Benjamin will return to Surprise, Arizona, for the 2006 Rangers Training Camp.

"I'll just take it from there and see what happens," he says. "I'd like to be in Double A - that would be with the Frisco (Tex.) Rough Riders -- but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up in High-A.

In Arizona, Benjamin has worked with hitting coaches Mark Witten and Brook Jacoby, along with former San Diego Padres manager Greg Riddoch.

"You see some of the big leaguers around every day, you take batting practice with them, and it's pretty amazing," Benjamin admits. "It's an experience being around those guys, and see how they handle their business. You learn from them, and see what a tremendous work ethic they have."

In recalling his time spent at Tech, Benjamin says his top memory is simply to have been playing for the Golden Eagles.

"I'd say just playing my senior year with all my closest buddies and the bonds we created over two or three years. Being able to step onto the field every day with guys like Ben Shannon, Carlos Martin, Ryan Hay and Dusty Eubanks.

"That and going to the NCAA Regionals my sophomore year," he said.

And now, he can add one more items to his list of top memories from Tennessee Tech, the diploma that certifies he has graduated.