Mets’ No. 2 Prospect Homers in Major League Debut vs. Pirates

BY: MADELYN DIBIASE / CO-NEWS EDITOR

Mets’ RF Carson Benge jumps for joy in celebration of his first big league home-run in his major league debut on Thursday afternoon (Photo: Angelina Katsanis/AP)

On Thursday afternoon, the New York Mets kicked off their 2026 season with a win against the Pittsburgh Pirates. A key contributor to this win was Carson Benge, who serves at the right-field position for New York. Benge hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Mets an extra insurance run and make the score 10-5.

Benge is a new addition to the major league roster, as he was called up on March 23. He may be new to the squad, but he is a familiar face with the fans. He spent all of last season in the Mets’ farm system, working his way up the ranks quickly. Prior to being called up, he was the number two prospect in the system for the Mets. 

Carson Benge was drafted in the first round of the 2024 MLB Draft by the Mets. He was the 19th overall pick and a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

The right-fielder began the 2025 season with the Mets’ high-A affiliate Brooklyn Cyclones. He played 60 games in Coney Island, batting a .302 avg, with 68 hits and driving in 47 runs. On June 23, he was moved up to Binghamton.

He was activated by the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the Mets’ double-A affiliate. He played 32 games for them. He batted a .317 avg, with 40 hits and 28 runs. He also had a notable .978 OPS.

Finally, he capped off the 2025 season with the Mets’ triple-A Syracuse Mets. He got activated in Syracuse on August 11. However, he unfortunately was the recipient of two stints on the 7-day injured list, which affected his play time. He played 24 games for the S-Mets, batting a disappointing .178 avg, 16 hits and 12 runs. 

Overall, Benge had a breakout year in the minor leagues and really worked his tail off to earn the call for the 2026 season. His overall stats for the year included a .281 batting average, .385 on-base percentage, and .472 slugging. 

Following a decision on the Mets’ behalf to move Juan Soto to the left-field position, the team needed a solid right-fielder, especially with the departure of Brandon Nimmo, who was acquired by the Texas Rangers in a trade that landed the Mets an infielder, Marcus Semien.  

After a solid spring in Port St. Lucie prior to the start of the 2026 season, the Mets knew they had their right-fielder. Benge guarantees the future of their position, as he is a young player who will still be developing for the next few years. 

Following the announcement of Carson’s call-up, the New York Mets released a video to their social media accounts that captured the moment he found out he was going to be on the opening day roster. In the video, Benge says, “Holy sh*t, I want to be here,” [when speaking about being on the Mets]. 

On opening day for the New York Mets, he was introduced to the faithful at Citi Field in Queens and was given the loudest ovation of anyone in the starting lineup. In his first major league series [vs PIT], his only hit was a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, in the opening day game. It was an incredible moment for the rookie, and he literally jumped up and down as he trotted the bases. 

The future is looking bright, and not just for the New York Mets, but for rookie Carson Benge. He will be looking to contribute and help the Mets make headway in the postseason this year after a disappointing 2025.