Mets prospect Carson Benge makes Opening Day roster: ‘He earned it’

The New York Mets are feeling especially good about their player development department as they break camp to begin the 2026 season, with 2024 first-round draft pick Carson Benge set to play right field Thursday at Citi Field when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Opening Day. “It’s a moment he’ll never forget,” manager Carlos Mendoza said Monday at Clover Park. “It’s a big day for the organization.

A kid that gets drafted in 2024 and two years later, here we are giving him the news that he’s going to be playing in the big leagues for us. ” Benge was the first draft pick made by the Mets’ current front office. Scouting director Kris Gross and president of baseball operations David Stearns took Benge with the 19th pick out of Oklahoma State.

With Andy Green overseeing player development, the Mets had the two-way player shift his focus solely to the outfield. Benge was more than agreeable, knowing it could help him reach the big leagues faster than if he focused on pitching. All of the work put into developing Benge and all his own work have paid off, with Benge saying he felt “joy over everything” when Mendoza informed him he would be the Mets’ Opening Day right fielder.

“Just knowing that I worked hard for it, countless hours I spent, and all my family members and friends that have sacrificed some time for me, knowing that it’s all going to come true,” Benge said. “It’s been my dream since I was little. It’s pretty cool.