Mar 24, 2026
3 min read
Mets prospect Carson Benge, who hit .366 in spring training, will be the starting right fielder on Opening Day, manager Carlos Mendoza said.
New York Mets prospect Carson Benge will be on the team's Opening Day roster as a right fielder, manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters on Monday.
Benge, a first-round pick in 2024, entered spring training with strong roster potential after impressing the organization in his first full season in the pros in 2025, hitting 15 home runs, 22 steals and an .857 OPS in 116 games across three levels.He shined with an .874 OPS.
"Happiness above all things, I would say. Just knowing that I worked hard for this. Countless hours I spent, and all the members of my family and friends have committed themselves many times to me, and that all this will happen - my dream since I was young - is very good," Benge told reporters before the Mets broke camp in Port St.Lucie, Florida.
"That will be true. I will do my best to take her. But keep calm and play your game."
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has praised Benge all season, saying he will have a chance to lead the team in spring training.The Mets, however, aren't sure where the 23-year-old Benge will fit into two starting spots this winter after the trade that left Brandon Nimmo.
The club tried to sign the top player on the free agent market, right fielder Kyle Tucker, and made a competitive bid, but he chose the Los Angeles Dodgers.The Mets then moved to acquire center fielder Luis Robert Jr.from the Chicago White Sox and elected to move Juan Soto from right field to left field, making room for Benge, who had played all three innings in the minors.
The Mets staff emphasized that it was a competition for the starting job between Benge, Mike Tauchman and MJ Melendez, but Benge appears to have the inside threat.That was bolstered when Melendez was optioned to Triple-A last week and Tauchman tore the meniscus in his left knee over the weekend, paving the way for Benge.
"It's a great day for the organization. A child who was drafted in 2024 and two years later, here we give him the information that he will play in a big game for us," said Mendoza."He got it. He had a hell of a time. We're all excited to see this kid play."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
