Mets 2025 Prospects: No. 3 Carson Benge

Carson Benge

B/T: L/R   Age: 22
Ht: 6’1″      Weight: 184 lbs
Acquired: Selected in the first round (19th overall) by the Mets in the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft.
ETA: 2027  Previous Rank: 6
2024 Stats: .335/.444/.665 (.1.109 OPS), 304 PA, 83 H, 24 2B, 18 HR, 64 RBIs, 10 SB, 49 BB, 51 SO (NCAA) – .273/.420/.436 (.857 OPS), 69 PA, 15 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 SB, 11 BB, 14 SO (Single-A)

Overview

The New York Mets drafted outfielder Carson Benge out of Oklahoma State during the 2024 MLB Amateur Draft. The 19th overall pick signed for slightly under slot, earning a $3,997,500 bonus (slot: $4,219,200).

Benge’s collegiate career was delayed until 2023 as in 2022 the two-way player had to undergo Tommy John surgery. In 2023, Benge returned to play and slashed .345/.468/.536, good for a sparkling 1.006 OPS. He hit seven home runs to go along with 43 RBIs. Benge walked (42) more than he struck out (32). In 2023, he also returned to pitching, where he struggled, posting a 6.69 ERA across 35 innings. Benge walked 24, which was his main issue, while only striking out 35.

Thanks to those 2023 performances, Benge was given freshman All-American honors from the NCBWA. He was also named to the All-Big 12 First Team as a utility player and was on the second team as an outfielder. He was an unanimous selection to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team.

Benge parlayed that first-year success into more successes in 2024. He slashed .335/.444/.665, good for another strong 1.109 OPS. He improved his power, as he hit 18 home runs across 248 at-bats. Benge added 64 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and 72 runs. His strikeout to walk rate was almost one, as he struck out 51 times compared to 49 walks. The pitching also improved mightily in 2024, as he posted a 3.16 ERA across 37 innings to go along with only 11 walks and 44 strikeouts.

In 2024, as a result of his performances, Benge was named to the All-Big 12 First Team and then subsequently drafted by the Mets. Benge ended his season with Single-A St. Lucie, where he slashed .273/.420/.436 (.857) across 55 at-bats in his first taste of professional baseball. He played predominantly center field in St. Lucie.

As a result of his performances, Benge is now valued as some as a top-100 prospect in baseball. The Oklahoma City, Oklahoma native has shown terrific bat-to-ball skills. Combined with a great eye, he should be able to hit for average with a strong on-base percentage. There is also enough pop in the bat to be a 20-plus home run hitter at the big league level one day. In the field, he has decent speed, combined with a very solid arm, meaning, he should be able to play in center.

2025 Outlook

Benge will likely start the season with Single-A St. Lucie. If he picks up where he started through only 55 professional at-bats last season, he should be on the fast track to High-A Brooklyn. At 22-years-old there is a chance he can escalate through the minor league system at a pretty fast rate. His current tool set only accelerates the possibility of that happening.

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