New York Mets 2024 first round pick Carson Benge broke into MLB Pipeline’s top 100 and ranks third in the Mets’ farm system.
Benge, 22, was taken 19th overall out of Oklahoma State and he got a taste of pro ball with the Mets Low-A affiliate, the Port St. Lucie Mets with 15 games in 2024. He had two home runs, eight RBI, and an OPS of .857 in 55 at-bats.
Carson Benge has his first professional home run in the books!
Benge was the New York Mets No. 19 overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of @OSUBaseball. pic.twitter.com/ysaDfVaZ10
— Prospects Live (@ProspectsLive) August 27, 2024
Benge was a two-way star at Oklahoma State, pitching and playing the outfield for three seasons. Last season he broke out as a hitter with 18 home runs, 64 RBI, 10 stolen bases and a slash line of .335/.444/.665 in 248 at-bats. He was also strong on the mound with 37 innings, 44 strikeouts, and an ERA of 3.16. Benge threw the ball 96-97 MPH with his fastball, with an above average slider, and a changeup.
With the 19th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Mets are selecting Carson Benge (OF/RHP) from Oklahoma State
Benge had a 1.109 OPS and pitched to a 3.16 ERA across 37 innings this season with the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/RpavaaP6jW
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) July 15, 2024
He has a lot of power as a left-handed hitter, and there was one game last season that really stood out. Benge two home runs and five innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts against Brigham Young University on April 25, 2024 in Stillwater, Okla. His second home run was an opposite field bomb that cleared the seats to left-center off BYU right-hander Carter Foss.
Really nice of Carson Benge to not only pitch 5 innings tonight but to also hit two bombs for the Cowboys. Team guy pic.twitter.com/Vdp9dnsY7X
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) April 26, 2024
“Being able to hit home runs and strike people out was pretty cool,” Benge told World Baseball Network at the Mets’ minor league complex in Port St. Lucie on March 20.
Asked about the transition to becoming a full-time hitter and not pitching with the Mets, “It’s definitely been a lot easier on my body. I feel like that’s going to help me make strides in my game and overall it’s been pretty fun so far.”
He also didn’t seem fazed in his short time with the Port St. Lucie Mets as opposed to playing college baseball.
“Not too much of a difference so far. I think college prepared me well to be able to play in this environment,” Benge said.
WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo: A photo of Carson Benge is shown on the video board after Benge was selected 19th overall by the New York Mets in the first round of the MLB baseball draft, in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, July 14, 2024. (AP Photo/LM Otero)
