22 Moments From ‘The Sandlot’ That Prove Benny The Jet Rodriguez Was A Latino Legend That’ll Never Die
There’s no denying that this brown-eyed heartthrob had a huge influence in the spark of your sexual awakening. Not only was Benny the cutest guy on the team, he also shined through as the team’s star player and went on to the Dodgers. All this despite the times and the white suburban neighborhood he lived in. 100% Benny is an inspiration and credit to Latinos who knock their dreams out of the park.
1. He wasn’t intimidated by other people’s success.
Benny easily makes friends with Smalls who he can tell right away is a bit nerdy and on the socially-undeveloped side. Still, he turns Smalls into one of his best friends and a pretty alright baseball player.
2. He’d do anything to defend your honor.
Benny was not about the bullshit. During the scene where The Tigers come to the sandlot, all of the sandlot players head off to confront them and throw their gloves to the ground. Not Benny though. My man, tosses his glove and picks up a baseball bat ready to knock out any 12-year-old boy who wants to take a whack at him.
3. He had mad style and knew how to take care of his shit.
Benny was all about the PF Flyers and valued their worth so much that he only used them to play for big games. Now that’s boi that knows how to take care of his shit.
4. And basically, every one of his looks was dreamy AF
Benny knew how to pull the doe eyes at every turn.
5. Even when he was slightly disgusted.
Whether he was proud of his own game or disgusted in the behavior of his teammates, he always looked fine.
6. Or, feeling completely lost.
Literally look at that face.
7. He was a go-getter.
On a constant mission to improve his curves, throws, and slides, Benny took the game seriously and thus inspired his friends to do so.
8. He was basically the heart and brains of the team.
These boys woke up at 8 AM every day in the SUMMER to hustle around a hot sandlot and play with Benny. His amazing team leadership had everyone pumped and ready to work.
(Also, damn son bite that lip.)
9. He was generous as hell.
Benny takes sad sack Smalls under his wing and teaches him that to play baseball which ultimately gives the new kid on the block a reason to thrive and become a sports journalist.
10. He was also the Latino dream we need in movies today.
For it’s time, Benny’s role was pretty innovative. He wasn’t the Latino stereotype that persists in movies and tv show to this day.
11. He knew how to take stuff seriously.
You’d never go wrong with Benny as a BF. He literally took his life on the baseball field so seriously that he became a player for the Dodgers AND eventually a manager of the team.
12. And be a team player
So you know that in any of his relationships he’ll be right next to his partner putting in 100% doing cleanups, cooking, and baby rearing.
13. He knew how to rally.
Again, this boy convinced 8 roudy boys of different ages and backgrounds to group together and play baseball in the scorching hot weather in the SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.
14. And have fun under the worst circumstances.
In the movie, the kids face the grueling heat of summers, the disappointment of losing their last ball, being ridiculed and getting sick on Tobacco. Despite this, each and every time, Benny rallied and found a way to have fun.
15. He knows how to treat you right.
Benny proves that he understands the importance of team building early on when he pays for everyone to go to the carnival.
16. He had a bit of potty mouth.
Yeah, your boy knows how to curse.
17. He was a fan of the Dodgers.
He was a fan of yes THE BEST baseball team ever. And he went on to have an impressive career with them too.
18. He knows how to hit a ball.
He busts the guts off of their last baseball.
20. He knows that absolute power is a bad idea.
Benny refused to lead his team with an iron fist and instead often allowed his team to put decisions to a vote.
21. He’s basically a god of the spoken word.
Benny was a king of teaching others to improve. When Smalls didn’t know how to throw a baseball, Benny gave him a paper route analogy to show him how to throw properly. After that, Smalls was able to pitch a mad ball.
22. Looked damn fine as an adult.
Seriously, get yourself a major leaguer like this guy.
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