What to Expect from Mets Outfielder Carson Benge

Last season, Carson Benge stormed through three levels of the Minors and firmly put himself on the radar for 2026. And after a good spring in St. Lucie, the Mets announced on March 23 that Benge made the team’s Opening Day roster.

A Look at Benge

The Mets took outfielder Carson Benge nearly two years ago in the first round after a standout collegiate career with Oklahoma State. Benge, who played with now-Mets teammate Nolan McLean in 2023, hit 25 total home runs as a Cowboy. Eighteen of those came in his draft year.

Benge showed immense polish last season in the Minors — which showed up on the statsheet. The 23-year-old slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs and 47 extra-base hits over 116 contests. He started 2025 in High-A, went to Double-A in the summer, and then finished the year with Triple-A Syracuse.

The outfield prospect, as we noted in our Mets’ farm review, showed many premium assets while in the Minors last season. Among them was the ability to consistently make contact; he posted a sub-20% Whiff% in Brooklyn last year, and that carried over all the way to Triple-A. It was only 20.1% with Syracuse.

The one lone weakness in his short Triple-A sample size was the back-foot area.

He also posted a 15.3% Barrel% over a 24-game sample size with the Syracuse Mets, part of a run that saw him post five total extra-base hits.

Those same contact skills were on full display in spring exhibition play. Benge swung and missed just 18% of the time during Grapefruit League game action, although that ticked up on four-seamers (26.5%).

Benge didn’t go deep for the Mets in spring action but picked up a team-high 15 hits. Overall, he slashed .366/.435/.439 over 14 contests.

For Benge, he opts to go with an open stance and will stand deep in the box, giving him more time to react to pitches. He does not have a long swing, which would partially explain the fact that he makes ample contact.

And as one would expect, given the high OBP from last season, Benge takes a lot of pitches, looking to go deep in counts.

Defensively, Benge spent most of his time in center field, where he would profile well if the Mets had an opening there (they don’t, thanks to Luis Robert Jr.). Additionally, he saw ample time in left and right field. His speed works well in the outfield.

The Mets confirmed on March 23 that Carson Benge would make the team’s Opening Day roster.

Analysis

It very much felt like this was a possibility for much of spring. But after Mike Tauchman, who suffered a torn meniscus, fell out of the conversation to make the team out of camp, Benge’s status became solidified.

Benge should fit in as the Mets’ starting right fielder. Juan Soto, who was the Mets’ right fielder, will shift to left field again in his MLB career. Although the team could choose to go with a slanted platoon, giving Tyrone Taylor time against left-handed pitchers.

There’s a lot of long-term upside with Benge. The young outfielder has speed, power, and could fit in nicely as a top-of-the-order bat if need be. That might not happen with the Mets, thanks to Juan Soto. But it does give you an idea of what Benge is capable of.

And, he’ll be counted on immediately to fill out a talented Mets lineup.

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