Top Outfield Prospect Not Doing Enough In Spring To Earn Opening Day Roster

The New York Mets have an ideal blend of star power and youth talent heading into the 2026 campaign, even after trading away multiple top prospects to retool their major league roster in hopes of a postseason run this fall.

Outfielder Carson Benge is ranked as the club’s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline, trailing only right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean. After being selected 19th overall by New York in the 2024 MLB Draft, Benge has played 131 games in the club’s organization.

In his first burst of games after being selected in the draft, Benge recorded an .857 OPS in 15 games at the Single-A level. The following season, 2025, Benge recorded the same OPS, hitting 15 home runs and driving in 73 runs in 116 games.

Those games were split amongst High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. Benge enjoyed the most success in Double-A, where he hit .317 with a .978 OPS in 32 games. The 23-year-old struggled in Triple-A, however, where he recorded a poor slash line of .178/.272/.311.

Benge has gotten some game action this spring, playing in five games as of Wednesday morning. He’s been solid so far, batting .308. All four of his hits, however, have been singles, limiting his OPS to a not-so-impressive .665.

With star Juan Soto moving to left field for 2026, the right field spot in New York has yet to be claimed. There are several options manager Carlos Mendoza has to choose from, Tyrone Taylor, Mike Tauchman, MJ Melendez, and Brett Baty being a few names, but Benge’s name shouldn’t be lost in the competition.

In Bleacher Report’s recent article, in which writer Zachary D. Rymer plays a game of buy or sell on whether or not top prospects will make the Opening Day roster, Benge doesn't make the cut for Opening Day. Rymer chose to sell on Benge’s chances at earning a spot on the Opening Day roster, citing his Triple-A struggles last season.

With the Mets’ intentions to win a ton of ball games this season and return to the postseason, they can't afford to take the risk on Benge right now. Instead, the Mets will be better off sending him back to Triple-A so he can prove his bat.

The No. 21 prospect in the MLB, Benge still has more to prove before getting that call-up to the major leagues. Barring an excellent end to spring training that forces the Mets’ hand, expect to see Benge starting 2026 in Syracuse with the Triple-A squad. That's not to say he won’t get his chance at some point in 2026, however.