Carson Benge

A lefty-hitting outfielder with strong tools across the board, Benge was the Mets' first rounder in 2024 after working as a two-way player at Oklahoma State. He's just an outfielder now, but his plus-plus arm still serves him well. Benge's got more projection and potential skills growth than the typical college pick, as he is an above-average hitter who uses the whole field but he hasn't yet learned how to consistently pull the ball in the air to take advantage of his above-average raw power. He had an excellent pro debut, slashing .273/.420/.436 with two home runs, three steals and a 14:11 K:BB in 15 games at Single-A, but both of his homers went out to the opposite field and he logged a 51.2 percent groundball rate. Benge is a good athlete, especially relative to the typical corner outfielder from college, and he may have the speed and instincts to play in center field if needed. He should spend all of his age-22 season in the minors and could debut in 2026. Read Past Outlooks