Simulated game Benintendi’s final hurdle

BOSTON — Hours before the Red Sox squared off against the Orioles on Monday, Andrew Benintendi completed one component of a final set of tasks that will green-light his return.

The rookie left fielder, who is the club’s No. 2 prospect, took part in a number of sliding drills from first to second base as Red Sox manager John Farrell and team trainers stood by. Farrell said the mobility Benintendi showed on the basepaths while sporting a knee brace was encouraging.

“[Tuesday] there will be a sim game in which he’ll get some at-bats,” Farrell said. “But the sliding, the aggressiveness that he went about it, that was the last physical test for him to pass. So [Tuesday] we’ll get him some live at-bats, and it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility that he’ll be activated after that.”

Farrell said it’s unlikely that Benintendi will be activated on Tuesday, but the Red Sox will check his at-bats after the simulated game. The manager said the benefits of batting practice vary from younger athletes to veterans. Some find the extra swings …

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