Carson Benge -- Prospect Evaluation

Carson Benge, a Mets prospect in his second full professional season, is attempting to earn a spot in New York's starting outfield during spring training. David Stearns has publicly left the door open for Benge to fill this role. Benge, who played as a two-way athlete at Oklahoma State before being drafted by the Mets as a first-round pick, opted to pursue hitting rather than pitching. Benge emphasized that he performs best when he "keeps things simple" and "stays as free as possible," noting that if he doesn't make the team, it will only motivate him further to reach the majors.

Former Oklahoma State teammate Nolan McLean, now a Mets pitcher, praised Benge's abilities, calling him "a super-gifted player" with exceptional barrel control and an advanced approach at the plate. McLean stated that Benge "had a knack for getting the barrel to the ball" from his first day in the college program and projected him to adapt quickly at the major league level and become a significant piece of the 2026 Mets offense. Benge reciprocated the compliments, acknowledging McLean's elite pitching ability and his superior choice to pursue pitching. Scouts view Benge as a natural hitter with the potential to become an impact player if he successfully transitions to professional baseball.

Carson Benge is a 6-foot-1, 184-pound left-handed outfielder from Oklahoma City selected 19th overall in the 2024 MLB draft by the New York Mets for $3,997,500. The Oklahoma State product redshirted in 2022 following Tommy John surgery and subsequently hit over .300 in both Big 12 seasons with strong plate discipline and solid power. His swing features a wide setup, leg kick, and hand movement, but produces an 82% contact rate with sufficient bat speed for professional velocity.

Benge's scouting profile emphasizes his bat-to-ball skills and impact potential as a quality hit-and-power prospect. He primarily plays right field, leveraging his plus arm and average speed, though scouts view him as a standout athlete capable of playing multiple outfield positions. As a two-way player at Oklahoma State, Benge threw a four-pitch mix (low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup, low-80s slider) but his professional upside is considerably greater as a position player.

Current minor league performance shows 97 at-bats with a .186 average, .255 on-base percentage, .278 slugging percentage, and 2 home runs. Benge is ranked #2 in the Mets organization (2026) and #12 nationally by Baseball America (2026). He has progressed through Mets minor league affiliates including Brooklyn Cyclones and Binghamton Rumble Ponies, with recent assignment to Syracuse Mets after recovering from an injury stint.

The New York Mets used the 19th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft to select Carson Benge, a left-handed hitting outfielder from Oklahoma State University. Benge grew up in Yukon, Oklahoma, in a baseball family alongside his two older brothers, Garrett and Tyler, who both played at the collegiate level and were drafted into professional baseball.

Benge had an accomplished high school career, earning OCABCA North Player of the Year and COAC Offensive Player of the Year honors as a senior in 2021, posting a .490 batting average with an 8-1 record and 124 strikeouts as a pitcher. He committed to Oklahoma State University and went undrafted in 2021 due to his strong commitment to the school. However, his college career was derailed when he suffered an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery prior to the 2022 season, causing him to miss the entire year.

Benge returned to Oklahoma State as a redshirt freshman in 2023 with impressive results. In 59 games, he batted .345 with a .468 on-base percentage and .538 slugging percentage, recording 17 doubles, 7 home runs, 8 stolen bases in 10 attempts, and drawing 42 walks against 32 strikeouts. He also pitched 35.0 innings, though his ERA was elevated at 6.69.

The New York Mets made Carson Benge from Oklahoma State their first-round selection at 19th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft under newly appointed president of baseball operations David Stearns. Benge is a two-way player capable of competing as both an outfielder and pitcher. The pick carries a slot value of $4.2 million as part of the Mets' total draft pool of $9.5 million across 20 rounds. The exact signing bonus amount for Benge was not disclosed. MLB.com ranked Benge as the 18th prospect in the class, noting that few college hitters in the draft class match his caliber. The Mets organization views Benge as a prospect with long-term potential to become a key part of a consistent contender, while the team currently pursues short-term additions at the trade deadline in its wild-card playoff push.

Carson Benge of the New York Mets is featured in MLB.com's prospect evaluation series, earning a #16 ranking on the 2026 MLB Top 100 Prospects list. The MLB Network panel provides detailed analysis of the prospect's skills, potential, and trajectory within the Mets organization. This evaluation is part of MLB's comprehensive ranking of top minor league talent expected to impact Major League Baseball in future seasons.

Carson Benge, 23, was called up to the Mets roster following an impressive spring training and made the Opening Day roster, initially playing right field. His MLB debut was challenging, resulting in a low .192 batting average early in the season. However, over his last 11 games, Benge has demonstrated improvement, going 10-for-33, and contributed a solo home run that sparked the Mets' offense in a 4-2 win against Colorado.

Benge's ability to maintain confidence despite early struggles has impressed manager Carlos Mendoza, who noted: 'I've been impressed with how he's handled the whole situation, how steady he's been, how professional, how mature he's been.' Injuries to veteran teammates, including Juan Soto and Luis Robert Jr., necessitated increased playing time for Benge, requiring him to move between outfield positions (right, left, and center field), which he has handled effectively.

While Benge's defense has been solid throughout the season, his offensive production is critical to his ability to remain in the majors and fulfill his prospect status. His recent improvement at the plate is viewed positively by the organization as it supports both team needs and his long-term development.