Carson Benge ‘definitely’ wants to make Opening Day roster with Mets watching how he handles the spotlight
TAMPA — Mets fans weren’t the only ones waiting to see Carson Benge on Sunday.
So was Carlos Mendoza.
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“I’m excited to see him play for the first time – without video,” the manager said before Benge made his Grapefruit League debut for the Mets in a 6-4 win over the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.
No highlights for the 23-year-old, who started in right field and led off, but that’s not what the Mets are looking for.
After their 2024 first-round pick pitched in the minor league program last year — his first full season in professional baseball — expectations grew when baseball president David Stearns said in November that Benge “will go to spring training with a chance to make our team.”
Carson Benge (l.) runs to first base during a Mets game on Feb. 22 Grapefruit League. Charles Wenzelberg
Then Stearns’ actions backed that up, as Brandon Nimmo was traded to the Rangers.
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Luis Robert Jr. he was acquired from the White Sox to play center, but there is still room in right field — now that Juan Soto is in left — for Benge.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to try to be me – nothing else,” Benge said before the game. “And let things work themselves out.”
The lefty Benge opened with two at-bats against Yankees right-hander Luis Gil before facing left-hander Tim Hill.
For Benge, who has played just 131 games in the minors after two seasons at Oklahoma State as a two-way player, an argument could be made that he needs more experience before he’s ready to go to Queens.
Carson Benge takes part in a practice session during the Mets’ Feb. 19 during spring training. Corey Sipkin of the NY Post
Whether that can be accomplished in time for Opening Day remains to be seen, but the skill set has impressed the pros, who almost universally believe Benge has made it to the majors soon — if not by the end of March.
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“It’s Day 1 and we want him to be himself, to compete, to play [his] game and don’t try to do too much,” said Mendoza.
And instead of focusing on results, the manager pointed to “the quality of the at-bats, the pitching, the baserunning. [and] self-defense.”
Benge struggled for a long time after his mid-August call-up to Triple-A Syracuse and endured an 0-for-24 stretch before finishing the season better.
Carson Benge throws a pitch during the Mets’ Feb. 19 in spring training. Corey Sipkin of the NY Post
Still, it’s rare for a player to make the jump to the majors after 24 games in Triple-A.
But his mind is focused on making the Opening Day roster.
“Definitely,” said Benge. “I want to come in here, do my best, be me, and whatever happens, happens.”
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And whatever happens, the spotlight will remain on Benge, and Mendoza will be watching to see how he handles it.
“I like to see how he deals with adversity,” Mendoza said of the outfielder, who started last season at High-A Brooklyn. “You’ll get through it. It’s always difficult, especially when there’s a lot of people out there. There can be a lot of noise – good or bad. It’s part of the process. You can have a good camp or you can go out there and it’s hard for you. But one thing we told him is to control what you control and let the people who make the decisions make the decisions.”
Benge said he knows the organization trusts him – and he knows that will only get him so far.
“It’s really cool,” said Benge. “No matter what happens, I’m still going to try to be myself and play the game like I’ve always played.”
