Despite the Slow Start, Carson Benge Can Be the Mets’ Spark

The New York Mets opted to give Carson Benge (Just Baseball No. 11 prospect) a roster spot on Opening Day to begin the 2026 Major League Baseball season. Aside from launching a home run in his major league debut on Opening Day, Benge struggled early in the season.

That has changed in recent weeks, as the top prospect has begun to break out and show flashes of the potential that made him one of the organization’s most highly-regarded young players.

Benge has made his presence felt not only with the stick, but also defensively, making several standout plays across all three outfield positions. His recent success has provided a lift for New York and helped fuel the team’s strong start to May.

Let’s take a deeper look at what has fueled Benge’s recent success and the impact he’s made for the Mets.

Stats were taken prior to play on May 12.

Finding His Groove at the Plate

Overall, Benge’s numbers still do not jump off the page, as he is slashing just .207/.276/.328 with three homers and a 75 wRC+. However, the rookie campaign has begun to heat up over his last 16 games, slashing .300/.352/.500 with two home runs, four doubles, and eight runs driven in over that stretch.

That’s corresponded with the Mets going 7-9 over that time; that doesn’t fly off the page by any means, but it’s a step forward nonetheless.

One of the biggest reasons behind Benge’s recent success has been his utilization of the opposite field consistently. Going the other way was trademark for the Oklahoma State product in the minor leagues. The all-fields mentality played a major role in the Mets’ belief that he was ready for the major league level to begin the season.

Now, New York is beginning to see the version of Benge that raked against minor league pitching the last two seasons.

The approach to look toward the opposite field, paired with Benge’s ability to lift the ball in the air, has paid major dividends during his recent hot streak. The 23-year-old ranks 12th in all of baseball with a 27.6% opposite-field fly-ball rate.

His clutch ground-rule double Friday night served as a prime example. Benge ripped an insurance run-scoring shot into the left-center field gap, continuing the trend of driving the ball with authority the other way.

And now Benge! 💪@Carsonbenge3 | #LGM pic.twitter.com/DS9CEKaHYA

— New York Mets (@Mets) May 9, 2026

He has also shown improved patience in the batter’s box, working deeper counts and showing a greater willingness to take walks. As a result, his walk rate has climbed to a respectable 8.7%. He’s drawn four walks in his last seven games compared to just seven walks in his 30 games prior. It’s not a glaring improvement, but it’s a step in the right direction.

The Other Tools Are On Display

While the production at the plate still has a ton of room for improvement, Benge has already shown that the rest of his game is well-rounded.

Benge has proven to be more than capable defensively, logging innings at all three outfield positions while producing strong results. He’s already registered +2 outs above average and a +2 fielding run value, according to Baseball Savant, so far this season.

In his limited opportunites to show it off, Benge has proved he has a hose for a right arm. His arm strength ranks in the 97th percentile, giving him one of the strongest arms in all of baseball. An arm this strong plays beyond the stat sheet, preventing runners from attempting to tag up or take an extra base.

A major reason behind Benge’s aforementioned strong OAA metric is his speed, which also sparks his base-stealing ability. The 23-year-old ranks in the 87th percentile in sprint speed, which not only aids his range in the field but has helped him swipe six bases without being caught.

As he continues reaching base more consistently, those stolen-base opportunities should only continue to increase.

What Comes Next?

Benge’s major league career is still in its early stages as he continues to develop by getting more experience in the show.

The Mets have shown that they are committed to that development, not only leaving him in the lineup every day despite his early struggles but keeping him on the big-league roster in general. An early-season demotion back to Triple-A would not have benefited either party and would have only sparked worse optics on what’s already been a nightmare season.

Now, New York is beginning to see the benefit of keeping Benge around and not making a impulsive decision they would have soon regretted.

His ability to play all three outfield positions, and play them well, allows himself to stay in the lineup every day for the rest of the season barring injury. Juan Soto has seemed to take the rookie under his wing, and sitting under that learning tree could prove to be extremely beneficial for the neophyte.

Benge has a tremendous amount of room to grow, but he has already proved that he can deal with struggles, push through, and come out on the other side better.