He really didn't want to talk.
He really would have preferred to not have so much attention focused on him.
Really, he just wanted to be left alone.

When you're a team's No.1 draft pick in 2001, and a rising pitcher through the Pittsburgh Pirates' farm system and happen to be playing not far from home (Milford) and just around the corner from you went to college (Kent State), people are bound to be curious.
John VanBenschoten, 23, knows this.
So the 6-foot-5, 225-pound right-hander reluctantly gave in and finally talked.

He hopes to impress the visitors with a strong outing on the mound for for Altoona at 2:05 p.m. today against Akron.
"I think there's going to be a good amount of people coming out, but I have no idea how many," VanBenschoten said.
"But I'm excited to see everyone."
Even with Kent State Coach Rick Rembielak and 14 of his closest friends planning on being in attendance, VanBenschoten said he won't be nervous.
"Nah, I'm looking forward to it," he said.

The much-anticipated start marks VanBenschoten's 12th at Double A, bringing a 5-2 record and 3.43 ERA into the final contest of the four-game series.
Before joining the Curve, VanBenschoten started the season at Class-A Lynchburg where he was 6-0 with a 2.22 ERA.
He won his first five decisions with Altoona before losing his first game on July 24 against New Haven - a loss that broke a streak that had grown to 27 starts back to the previous season.

"He's a guy with four quality pitches, good competitive makeup, a desire to succeed, a willingness to learn and a nice overall package of the physical and mental," Altoona pitching coach Jeff Andrews said.
And for the record, even he gave the media grief for having the nerve to want to talk about VanBenschoten.
"But like everyone else, he's got things to work on--mostly in the area of experience," Andrews said.
"The day-to-day, month-to-month things, the set backs, the high points. Basically, the whole spectrum of the game."

VanBenschoten talked specifically about getting more consistent with control of his four pitches and the difference he's noticed pitching at the Double-A level.
"The hitters here are much more patient," he said.
"They don't swing at the pitcher's pitch, they concentrate on a more selective area.
"In A-ball, I could throw most guys three straight sliders or change ups and get them out.
It's a lot different up here. Here, you gotta take care of guys one through nine.
You have to get guys out with your fastball and conserve pitch counts."

With VanBenschoten looking to duck all the attention when the Curve arrived in Akron on Thursday, teammate and first baseman Brett Roneberg tried to pick up the slack.
"Hey, you need someone to interview?
You can talk to me.
You know, I was in the Olympics."
Unfortunately, as friendly and outgoing as he was, the Australian Roneberg just wasn't the story of the day.
And odds are, with VanBenschoten finally going today, Roneberg won't be today either.

Aeros spoil return of former Kent star
Since the beginning of last season, the Akron Aeros have been good enough to generate excitement on their own at Canal Park. They got an assist from the oppo sition yester day.
The start ing pitcher for Altoona, John Van Benschoten, once excelled on the mound and at the plate for Kent State.
He returned to the area as a player for the first time since being drafted eighth overall by Pittsburgh in 2001.
Akron and its starter, Francisco Cruceta, were unkind to their special guest.
Cruceta struck out 12 in a complete game as the Aeros won, 4-2, in front of 7,102.
With a sizable contingent of family and friends in attendance, Van Benschoten gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings.
The 6-5 right-hander walked three and struck out eight.
He threw a wild pitch and committed a balk and an error.
An elite prospect in the Pirates' system, Van Benschoten (5-3, 3.58 ERA) dropped his third consecutive decision.
He had won 15 in a row at three levels dating to last season.
He began this season at higher-Class A Lynchburg, Va.

VanBenschoten's day goes OK
Meanwhile, Curve starter John VanBenschoten, pitching just 13 miles from the campus of Kent State where he starred for three seasons, dropped his third consecutive start after winning his first 11 decisions of the season between Single-A Lynchburg and Altoona.
The Pirates' top prospect gave up four runs (three earned) on seven hits in five innings of work to fall to 5W-3L.
VanBenschoten did strikeout eight batters, his most since being promoted to the Double-A level in mid-May.