A couple of first-round draft picks from 2014 had significant playing time in the National League Championship Series in 2015.

That brings us to center fielder Andrew Benintendi, the University of Arkansas slugger chosen by Boston in the first round in June.

Andrew Benintendi had a lot to smile about after the Red Sox signed him to a $3.59 million bonus after his sophomore year at the University of Arkansas. But how soon he’ll be ready for Boston remains to be seen. The Associated Press

What does 2016 hold?

Red Sox fans, of course, would love to see their team return to the playoffs. But could Benintendi, who will not turn 22 until July, be on the roster?

Let’s look at that 2014 draft, when the Cubs drafted Kyle Schwarber out of Indiana University with the fourth pick. Then Oregon State outfielder Michael Conforto went to the Mets with the 10th pick.

Schwarber, now 22, reached advanced Class A in his first pro season, then began in Double-A this year before hitting Triple-A and the majors. He batted .246 with an .842 OPS and 16 home runs in 69 games for Chicago. He starred in the postseason, batting .333 with five home runs before the Cubs were eliminated.

Conforto, also 22, stayed in the New York-Penn League last season. He began this year in advanced Class A, moving to Double-A and then to New York. There, he hit .270/.841 with nine home runs in 56 games. His postseason has been a struggle so far – 1 for 18, with the one hit a home run.

Benintendi, chosen seventh in the 2015 draft, might be on a similar path.

His rookie numbers were so impressive – a combined .313/.972 with 11 home runs in 54 games in the New York-Penn League and the Class A South Atlantic League – that Baseball America named Benintendi the “closest to the majors” among 2015 draft picks.

One sign of how quickly Benintendi will advance will be where he begins next year. Dustin Pedroia is the only Red Sox prospect to begin his first full pro season in Portland (2005), but Pedroia also finished the season before in advanced Class A.

It is likely that Benintendi begins 2016 in advanced Class A Salem. But a solid start could bring him to Hadlock Field before the summer.

Benintendi, 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, reportedly has strong hands and a quick swing – think Mookie Betts. And like Betts, he can steal bases (10 last year, 24 his last season of college).

Even though he went high in the first round, Benintendi was considered something of a risk because he produced well in only one college season.

A two-sport high school star (baseball and basketball) in suburban Cincinnati, Benintendi was drafted in 2013 by the Reds (31st round) but opted for college. He had trouble adjusting his freshman year, and injuries did not help, as he hit .271 with one homer.

Instead of playing the summer after his freshman year – where scouts would watch him – Benintendi stepped away from baseball to heal and work on his strength. He exploded into the spotlight last spring as a sophomore (.376, 20 home runs), when he earned national player of the year honors from Baseball America and Collegiate Baseball and won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top amateur player.

Boston, which could use a power hitter, signed Benintendi to a $3.59 million bonus.

Now let’s see how far he goes, and how fast.