Benyo, Yarabinec Receive Praise from Baseball America

by YSU

Saturday, Feb 13, 2016 10:18 am

Youngstown State baseball players Kyle Benyo and Kevin Yarabinec were recognized by Baseball America in the publication's preview of the Horizon League that was released on Thursday. Benyo was predicted to be the conference's Freshman of the Year, and Yarabinec was slotted as the league's sixth-best prospect in the 2016 draft class.

Benyo is a Youngstown native who played at Austintown Fitch High School before transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., for his senior year. He batted .361 with three home runs and 15 RBIs at IMG Academy, and he was a first-team all-conference player as a junior at Fitch. Benyo is one of 12 freshmen on YSU's roster in 2016, and he's expected to see plenty of innings in the outfield.

Yarabinec is a right-handed pitcher from Sharpsville, Pa., who excelled as YSU's closer in 2014 before missing the majority of 2015 with an injury. He was voted to the Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2014 when he finished with five saves, a 2-2 record and a 2.22 ERA in 20 appearances.

Youngstown State begins the 2016 season at Western Kentucky on Friday.