Mar 13, 2026; West Palm Seaside, Florida, USA; New York Mets proper fielder Carson Benge (93) returns to the dugout in opposition to the Washington Nationals throughout the second inning at CACTI Park of the Palm Seashores. Necessary Credit score: Sam Navarro-Imagn Photographs
Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza confirmed what had been a foregone conclusion for fairly some time: Carson Benge has made the Opening Day roster and shall be New York’s beginning proper fielder come Thursday at Citi Area in opposition to the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The group’s No. 2 general prospect lived as much as early expectations positioned on him by president of baseball operations David Stearns, who stated all through the winter that Benge would have a shot at making the big-league membership out of camp. In 41 Grapefruit League at-bats, the 23-year-old batted .366 with an .874 OPS, 5 RBI, and a stolen base.
“It’s a second that he’ll always remember, and as a supervisor, after delivering some robust information the previous few days, sending guys right down to the minor leagues, it’s an enormous day for the group,” Mendoza stated. “Child who will get drafted in 2024 and two years later, right here we’re giving him the information that he’s going to be taking part in within the huge leagues for us… He earned it. He had a hell of a camp, and we’re all excited to look at this child play.”
Whereas Benge’s making the roster grew to become abundantly clear halfway by means of spring coaching, it was confirmed when veteran outfielder Mike Tauchman suffered a torn meniscus on Saturday, in the end ending the competitors for the beginning right-field duties.
The Oklahoma State product catapulted by means of New York’s minor-league system final 12 months, beginning in Excessive-A ball with the Brooklyn Cyclones and ending in Triple-A Syracuse. Throughout 116 video games at three totally different ranges, he batted .281 with an .857 OPS, 15 dwelling runs, 73. RBI, and 22 stolen bases.
He’s anticipated to be the franchise’s proper fielder of the long run and simply one of many intriguing storylines inside the Mets’ outfield. Juan Soto made it clear this spring that he needs to chase down Shohei Ohtani and win the NL MVP award whereas transferring from proper subject to left. In middle subject, New York is taking a bet on the oft-injured Luis Robert Jr., who hit 38 dwelling runs in his final totally wholesome marketing campaign in 2023.
Tyrone Taylor will function a fourth outfielder with Brett Baty providing utility providers at a number of positions, together with proper subject.
For extra on Carson Benge and the Mets, go to AMNY.com
