New York Mets outfielder Carson Benge got off to a rough start, but he's starting to go on a tear offensively.
Carson Benge is one of the New York Met premier prospect, but his first month with the team wasn’t fun. After hitting a home run on Opening Day in his major-league debut, Benge proceeded to go on a tailspin that made it look like he needed some time at Triple A. By the third week of April he was hitting just .136 with a .416 OPS, and he also had an 0-for-24 slump on his big league resume.
Maybe not, though. Benge is hitting .303 with a .906 OPS, and his home run in the sixth inning triggered a rally that led to a 4-2 Mets win. Part of what’s kept Benge with the Mets is his even-keel approach, which has impressed everyone, including Mets manager Carlos Mendoza.
"I’ve been impressed with how he’s handled the whole situation -- how steady he’s been, how professional, how mature he’s been,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said in a piece written by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. “Those are some really good signs from a young player, especially getting a taste at the big league level for the first time.”
It also helped that the Mets never considered sending him to Triple-A. The Mets did bring in other outfielders, but they were basically retreads who came with low expectations, and the Mets' run of injuries actually helped Benge stick around.
The Mets also had some history with Benge that made the organization think would eventually start to hit. The outfielder his throughout his minor league career as he posted an OPS of .857 over 131 minor league games, according to DiComo.
"Even when it was really, really hard for him, I never sensed any type of panicking,” Mendoza said. “He handled it pretty well. He continues to show a lot of good signs on and off the field.”
Another part of Benge’s game that has helped him make the transition is his defense. He’s made mistakes here and there, with yesterday’s tumble against the Colorado Rockies being one of the bigger ones, but Benge has been shuffled around a lot, and he’s provided consistent defense wherever he’s played.
Benge says he’s playing freer now, which makes sense given the newness of what he’s been dealing with and the expectations that came with his arrival at Citi Field. He seems unfazed by the numbers he sees on the scoreboard after his long slump, and he basically just keeps playing his game.
"You just go out there and your mind’s blank,” Benge said. “You play the game as hard as you can, not worrying about anything. It’s just a good feeling.”