Carson Benge Has Dream MLB Debut

Carson Benge had a major league debut every kid dreams of on Thursday. The 23-year-old took the field on Opening Day to a huge ovation from the Citi Field crowd when the players were introduced during pregame ceremonies and then when he jogged out into the outfield for the first time.

Benge picked up right where he left off this spring. He reached base three times on Thursday, going 1-for-3 with a home run for his first big league hit, an RBI, two runs scored, walked twice, and stole a base.

He said his MLB debut was everything he thought it was going to be. “Definitely anxious to get out there and start playing,” he said.

Hitting a home run as your first major league hit is a thing kids dream of, and Benge made that a reality. His home run came in the sixth inning, a solo shot to right field that extended the Mets’ lead. His smile said it all as he jogged around the bases, jumped up with a fist bump at third base on his way around the bases, watched the apple rise in the outfield, and was greeted with applause, high-fives and hugs from his teammates. He received a much-deserved curtain call from the Citi Field fans, his first curtain call as a Met.

His stolen base followed in the eighth when he stole second with Francisco Alvarez at bat. The smile once again said how much fun the rookie was having.

Adding to the list, Benge received his first post-game shower when he was doused with the Gatorade shower during his post-game interview with NBC. Benge stayed in his uniform during his postgame availability, relishing the moment of what he had just experienced.

When talking about his first big league home run, Benge said he kind of “blacked out running around the bases.” “I don’t really remember too much,” he joked about. “I know I got it good off the bat, but running hard out of the box definitely,” he laughed.

Benge said it meant the world to him to hit his first MLB home run on Thursday. “It means the world, having all the people who’ve sacrificed so much for me come up and watch that happen is definitely big,” he said.

Carlos Mendoza complimented Benge’s character and the way he kept himself composed after striking out twice.

“The personality. Who he is super consistent. He’s 0-for-2 with a couple of strikeouts and still feels pretty good about his chances. He controls the strike zone, he walks, there’s a couple of walks there, and then he gets a pitch that he can do damage and goes to the pull side like that,” said Mendoza. “I’m not surprised by it because of the personality there.”

Benge also spoke on the strikeouts, saying he told himself to calm down and breathe. He said his adrenaline was running, he had a lot of excitement stepping into the plate for the first time, and that he just needed to calm down.

“Great atmosphere, great fans, just trying to bring myself back down so I could compete,” he said. “The first one is always going to be something to remember,” he said with a smile on his face. He described the crowd at Citi Field as “loudest he’s ever heard x 5” and how much he enjoyed hearing it. He said after his first home run, he had chills and said it confirmed that that is where he is supposed to be: At Citi Field as a Met, having fun, playing baseball.

Benge said his first big league home run ball will be going to his parents. Why? “So I don’t lose it,” said Benge.

Benge said that leading up to his big league debut, he slept great and didn’t have nerves. He said as he walked into the stadium for the first time Thursday, he got a little anxious, but he said he did sleep well on Wednesday night ahead of his debut.

Adding to the entertainment of the day, during the game, a dead bird “fell out of the sky” next to Benge. Fans were heard heckling him, telling him to pick it up. “I heard a thud, I looked over, and it was just down, down for the count,” he said.

“Unbelievable, really, really cool,” said Brett Baty, who recounted the moment when Alvarez and he hit home runs in their first games. “It was really, really special and I’m really happy for him.”

Thursday will be a day Benge remembers forever: first MLB opening day, first big league hit, first big league home run, first big league stolen base, and a dead bird falling from the sky.

Benge welcomed his family onto the field at the end of the game, including his dog. There were a lot of hugs between him and his family, including his parents, brothers and dog.

From here, Benge said he’s going to “play my game.” This is just the start to what is slated to be a phenomenal career for the kid from Oklahoma.

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