Carson Benge is heading to the big leagues.
The New York Mets announced Monday that their No. 2 organizational prospect has made the Opening Day roster after a standout spring. Benge, 23, will start in right field and is expected to hit near the bottom of the lineup, likely in the eight hole.
He hit .366 with a double, a triple and a stolen base over 46 Grapefruit League plate appearances and played strong defense throughout camp. The Mets moved Juan Soto to left field in part to take advantage of Benge’s stronger throwing arm in right.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said the rookie earned every bit of it.
“He earned it. He had a hell of a camp,” Mendoza said. “We are all excited to watch this kid play.”
Benge was the 19th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of Oklahoma State, where he was a two-way player and teammate of Mets pitching prospect Nolan McLean. He jumped three levels last season and hit .280 with 17 home runs and 25 stolen bases in 131 minor league games. A dominant 32-game stretch at Double-A Binghamton earned him a promotion to Triple-A Syracuse, though he hit just .178 in 24 games there, raising some questions about his readiness.
This spring, he answered those questions. Hitting coach Troy Snitker praised his versatility at the plate.
“He moves the bat really fast, but he’s a really good hitter, too,” Snitker said. “He can beat you in multiple different ways. It’s an impressive repertoire of skills.”
Benge ranks 16th among all prospects in baseball and will become the highest-ranked Mets prospect to debut since Francisco Alvarez in 2022.
The right-field competition came down to Benge and 35-year-old Mike Tauchman late in camp, but Tauchman tore the meniscus in his left knee in the team’s second-to-last Grapefruit League game, clearing the way for Benge.
He will line up alongside Soto and Luis Robert Jr. in the Mets’ outfield.
Benge said the moment has been a long time coming.
“Joy over everything, just knowing that I worked hard for it,” Benge said. “My dream since I was little is pretty cool.”
Leave Your Comment Here