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Benny "the Jet" Rodriguez is a fictional character from The Sandlot, portrayed by Mike Vitar, who is the best baseball player and leader of the sandlot team. He is the one who invites the new kid, Scotty Smalls, to join the team. As an adult, Benny becomes a legendary Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and he and Smalls remain best friends. Role in the movie: As the oldest and most mature kid, Benny acts as a big brother figure to the others, particularly to Smalls, and teaches him how to play baseball. He is also the main protagonist of the movie. Key plot point: Benny famously retrieves a baseball from the backyard of a fearsome dog named Hercules (aka "The Beast") by wearing his PF Flyers, which gives him the courage and ability to face the dog. Future career: His dream of playing for the Dodgers comes true, and he becomes a famous professional athlete known as Benny "the Jet" Rodriguez. Relationship with Smalls: The two remain lifelong friends, with Smalls becoming a sportscaster who covers Benny's games in their adult lives. |
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Scotty Smalls is the protagonist in the movie The Sandlot, a shy, academic 12-year-old who moves to a new neighborhood in the summer of 1962 and doesn't know how to play baseball. He struggles to fit in, but is taken under the wing of a local baseball prodigy named Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez, who teaches him to play and helps him earn the respect of the other boys. Smalls' character arc involves overcoming his social awkwardness and insecurity to become a valued member of the sandlot team.Newcomer: Smalls is the "new kid in town" who has just moved to Los Angeles with his mother and stepfather. Baseball novice: He is not skilled at baseball, initially unable to catch or throw properly, and even mistook a baseball signed by Babe Ruth for a generic ball, leading to a memorable plot point. Socially awkward: He is introverted and struggles to make friends, spending most of his time with his erector set. Key relationships: His character is defined by his relationship with Benny, who becomes his mentor, and his eventual bonding with the rest of the sandlot team. Adult life: He grows up to become a sports radio announcer for the Los Angeles Dodgers. |
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