Two Mets Named To 'All-Rookie-Team' As 2026 Season Hits Halfway Mark

The New York Mets are 15 games under .500 and 10 games out of a Wild Card spot, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t space to celebrate the small wins that have been realized in Queens. As we enter the halfway point of the 2026 campaign, two Mets have earned a spot on Bleacher Report’s ‘All-Rookie Team.’

The first of which to earn a spot on writer Joel Reuter’s squad is outfielder Carson Benge.

Formerly the 19th overall selection in the 2024 draft out of Oklahoma State University, Benge played just one full season in the minor leagues before he earned a spot on the Mets’ major league roster to start this season.

After progressing through several levels of the minor leagues last season, there was some concern about Benge not getting more time after struggling in Triple-A, where he posted a poor .583 OPS in 24 games.

Those concerns only grew louder after New York's slow start in March and April. The 23-year-old logged just 17 hits in 90 at-bats and had just a 47 OPS+ at the time.

May was a different story, however, as Benge finally settled in and became one of the most impactful bats in the Mets’ lineup. Finishing the month with a .306/.375/.426 slash line with a 129 OPS+, Benge proved he was undoubtedly a major league-level player.

Benge has been more than just a positive bat in an underwhelming Mets lineup, however. The Mets have benefitted from Benge’s speed on the basepaths and his arm in the outfield. Coming in at the 85th percentile in sprint speed and in the 97th percentile in arm strength, the Mets have been reaping the rewards of a full package from their rookie. He undoubtedly deserves a spot on Bleacher Report’s list, as without him, the Mets’ season would be in an even worse spot.

Right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean joined Benge on the list after his play in his true rookie season. After putting his name on the map at the end of last season with a dominant 2.06 ERA in eight starts, there were big expectations for McLean as he entered his first full season in the majors.

While he hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers, McLean's arm has been a huge contributor to a shaky Mets rotation. Posting a 4.03 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 16 starts, the former third-round selection in 2023 has the second-lowest ERA of any Mets starter with at least 10 starts.

At 24 years old, McLean has been a force against right-handed batters, holding them to a .547 OPS on the year. The value of his fastball ranks in the 91st percentile thanks to his sinker and four-seamer, but he has room for improvement with his breaking pitches.

There may have been loftier expectations for McLean heading into the season, but he’s certainly been one of the few bright spots for the Mets during his rookie campaign.