Benge, Tong Earn Minor League Honors

Outfielder Carson Benge, whom the Mets selected in the first round (19th overall) of last year’s draft, earned the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year award, the team announced Monday. Jonah Tong is the Mets’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Elian Peña, the 17-year-old infielder who signed for a team record $5 million signing bonus in January, was named the team’s Dominican Summer League Player of the Year. Osiris Calvo was the Mets’ DSL Pitcher of the Year.

Benge, selected out of Oklahoma State University, started his season with High-A Brooklyn, where he slashed .302/.417/.480 with four home runs and 15 stolen bases in 60 games. He didn’t miss a beat after getting promoted to Double-A Binghamton, hitting .317/.407/.571 with eight homers in 32 games.

The 22-year-old has experienced growing pains since arriving at Triple-A Syracuse last month, slashing .130/.197/.188 with one homer in 76 plate appearances. Across the three levels, Benge started 60 games in center field, 23 in right and 21 in left. In total, he hit 13 home runs and posted an .840 OPS in 492 plate appearances this year. He was 21-for-25 stealing bases.

Tong was dominant in the minors before getting called up to the Mets last month. He struck out 162 in 102 innings pitched for Binghamton and pitched to a 1.59 ERA. (He still leads the Eastern League in strikeouts and was the Minor League strikeout leader before his promotion.) The 22-year-old also threw 11 2/3 scoreless innings at Syracuse while striking out 17.

Peña hit .292/.421/.528 with nine home runs, 13 doubles and a triple in 223 plate appearances in the DSL. He was, just like Benge, 21-for-25 swiping bases. He walked and struck out 36 times. He started 43 games at shortstop and nine at second.

Calvo went 5-1 with a 2.51 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 11 appearances (nine starts). The 21-year-old lefty from the Dominican Republic struck out 45 in 43 innings pitched and walked nine. He allowed two home runs.

Jackson Bertoli, the manager of Sports Science, was named the Mets’ Staff Member of the Year. Rachel Neugart, assistant field coordinator, earned the DSL Staff Member of the Year honor, and Chad Langley was the Scout of the Year.

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