Carson Benge is officially a big leaguer - how will he be deployed to start?
Plus, notes on Craig Kimbrel and other roster candidates heading north with the club
What’s Up with the Mets? ⚾️
In what was the worst kept secret of the spring, the Mets officially announced on Monday that Carson Benge had made the team and will be the opening day right fielder, Carlos Mendoza said on Monday
New York finished off Spring Training with an intrasquad game at Clover Field on Monday afternoon - The highlight of Monday’s intrasquad game was this long three-run homer by Francisco Alvarez off of Sean Manaea (SNY)
Despite not making the team out of camp, veteran RHP Craig Kimbrel has decided to remain with the Mets organization and will stay behind in Florida to stay ready for an opportunity (NY Post)
Vidal Brujan, Jared Young, Ben Rortvedt, Richard Lovelady and Bryan Hudson will be in New York with the club this week - the Mets will decide who will be added to the roster before they have to submit their 26-man roster
The Just Mets Podcast 🎙️
In the latest episode of The Just Mets Podcast, Andrew and Rich discuss over/unders and make their official predictions ahead of the 2026 Mets season.
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Today’s Game 📆
The Mets will open the regular season against the Pirates on Thursday afternoon at Citi Field.
Let’s talk about Carson Benge, who made the Mets Opening Day roster ✍️
The Mets wrapped up a workmanlike spring training camp with an intrasquad game yesterday afternoon, but the story of the day is what came afterwards.
Shortly after that contest wrapped up, Carlos Mendoza made the long-expected announcement that the team’s top position player prospect, Carson Benge, had officially made the team as the Mets’ everyday right fielder.
David Stearns and the Mets front office consistently insisted all winter that Benge would be given every opportunity to win the job, and after slashing .366/.435/.439 during spring training, it would have been ludicrous to leave him behind.
The Mets organization has long maintained a reputation as a pitching-first franchise, and the club has undoubtedly developed numerous difference-makers on the mound. The most recent of whom is Benge’s close friend and teammate in both college and now in New York, Nolan McLean.
But the team has struggled to churn out long-term, consistent stars on the position player side. Benge will debut with more hype than any Mets rookie since Pete Alonso seven years ago, and while he won’t be expected to set any rookie home run records like the Polar Bear did, the Mets are seriously counting on him being a regular contributor.
And nothing in Benge’s professional history indicates he won’t be.
In 116 games spanning three minor league levels last season, he slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 homers, 73 RBI, 25 doubles, 7 triples, and 22 stolen bases. He boasts a strong arm in the outfield, is a plus defender, and while he’s likely to develop more power as he develops, he’s already profiling as an impact offensive player.
Benge clearly belonged on the opening-day roster. The only thing I’m curious about now is how exactly he will be used.
Obviously, he’s here to be the starting right fielder. But I’m interested to see if the team intends to protect him or challenge him early on. For example, when the Mets face their first rough lefty of the season, does Benge stay in the lineup? Or does Mendoza give Tyrone Taylor a start?
To me, the youngster has shown a knack for not backing down from a tough at-bat, and has handled himself fine against southpaws to date. And while I expect him to be just fine and produce from the outset, in the event he got off to a slow start, how long is the leash?
These are questions we won’t have the answers for until they come up, but personally I would love for the Mets to take the training wheels off right away and let the kid play. Will there be growing pains and learning experiences? Probably. But that’s part of the deal.
Benge is the best position player this system has churned out in years. He’s earned this. And I can’t wait to see him embrace the opportunity in front of him and thrive.
Around the League 🚩
The Phillies plan to open the season with J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchan as their catching tandem, and will try to trade Garrett Stubbs before Opening Day (Philadelphia Inquirer)
Atlanta has lost RHP Spencer Strider for the early part of the season due to an oblique injury (MLB.com)
Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki will open the season on the injured list (The Athletic)
Tampa Bay infielder Gavin Lux will also begin the season on the injury list thanks to a right shoulder impingement (Tampa Bay Times)
The worst kept secret in spring training history is no longer. The kid should be given lots of rope to figure out how to be a major leaguer. He seems to have a very even keel about him and he will need that should he get into an 0-16 or worse slump. I’m sick of this “protecting” guys against lefties. You want him to potentially be an all star? He needs to hit lefties and from what I’ve seen so far that doesn’t seem to be an issue for him. Tarik Skubal is a guy nobody hits so with him being the cream of the crop let the kid play. Good for the kid. He won the job. Give him the ABs and let’s not ruin him like they have with players past and current. Vientos, Mauricio, Acuna.
The thing I like about this is the Mets are not asking Benge to be the savior for the franchise. The Mets have domes this far too many times. See: Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden.