Benge Puts On Laser Show With Throws From Right Field

The San Diego Padres had two chances to score on the New York Mets in the first inning last night, and they couldn’t come through for an unusual reason. That reason was right fielder Carson Benge, who gunned down both Jake Cronenworth and Manny  Machado in the first inning of what became a 2-1 Mets win. 

Benge was asked which throw he liked more, the first at 99.9 mph or the second at 103.9 mph. He picked the second one, and the outfielder added that he wasn’t surprised that Machado chose to run on him. 

“I just looked up and threw the ball. I’m not worried that they are running or not,” Benge said in a follow-up piece by Bill Ladson of MLB.com. “I try to throw as hard as I can to be able to make them stop or get them out. … I feel like anytime anyone makes a good throw to end an inning or have a quicker out, it shifts the momentum in our favor.”

The two outs gave Benge a total of nine outfield assists, which ranks fourth in the majors. He’s gaining a reputation around the league as an outfielder you don’t run on, although the Padres apparently missed the memo. 

For interim manager Andy Green, Benge’s defensive highlights are part of a whole package, as he’s been a revelation from the day he came up. 

“He is a special athlete,” Mets interim manager Andy Green said. “He is really confident. He really feels good about it. It’s been ridiculous, honestly. It just doesn’t happen at this rate. You don’t get these opportunities, and you don’t execute perfectly the way he has every time.”

The Mets have attempted to hone Benge’s defensive game at the minor league level, with a couple of key coaches stepping up to make contributions. 

“David Adams [field and gameplay coordinator] and Jonathan Jones [outfield/baserunning] worked so hard with him, speeding up his release,” Green said. “[Benge] always had the arm strength and he has really picked up on how quickly he gets rid of the ball. That turns into a different kind of elite. The same can be said about A.J. Ewing down in the minor leagues.”

New York’s emphasis on run prevention hasn’t worked in the infield, where they’ve struggled all season defensively. But it’s definitely worked in the outfield, and it’s starting to show more now that the Mets are playing better all-around baseball. 

“Without those kids in the corners, we don’t win that game,” Green said. “Nolan McLean doesn’t get to settle in and pitch six strong innings for us. That game could have spun wildly differently without them playing the outfield so well.”