The New York Mets still have a few question marks regarding their roster as the 2026 season approaches. Francisco Lindor’s health and where Brett Baty will slot in are two of the biggest talking points for the club. Lindor underwent hamate bone surgery in February, but is still on track to recover in time for opening day.
The star shortstop made his spring training debut on March 15, going one for three and playing four innings in the field. After the outing, Lindor claimed that he felt good and remains on schedule. Baty, on the other hand, has looked very solid at the plate throughout the preseason. The versatile slugger has hit .381, with a .435 OBP, and 1.054 OPS in 23 plate appearances this spring.
While he has performed at the plate, there may not be a regular spot for him in the field. According to SNY’s Danny Abriano, Baty is likely set to be New York’s main designated hitter to start the upcoming campaign. With these two situations seemingly set, the Mets have one more major decision to make: who will be the opening day right fielder?
The two most likely candidates for the job are veteran Mike Tauchman and rookie phenom Carson Benge. Both players have hit well so far this spring. Nevertheless, Abriano is predicting that Benge will be New York’s starter in right field come opening day. “The 23-year-old has simply looked the part, not just when it comes to his offensive results, but the type of at-bats he’s been putting together,” writes the reporter.
Carson Benge has Impressed New York Mets Management This Spring
GettyCarson Benge has had an impressive spring training with the Mets.
As the Mets’ top hitting prospect, Benge was always expected to produce at the plate. And he has not disappointed during spring training. So far this month, the rookie has hit .367, to go along with a .433 slugging and an .840 OPS. While everyone in the organization assumed he would hit well, there were concerns about how Benge would handle right field.
The phenom, however, has played impressive defense so far this spring. Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has taken notice. “In the games, we’ve seen what we would’ve expected,” the exec said of Benge, as reported by SNY. “He’s taken very competitive at-bats. He’s a tough out. I think he’s played a nice right field. So, he’s done what we would expect him to do. We think he’s gonna be a really good player, and we’ll have a difficult decision as we get toward the end of camp.”
New York Will Have Revamped Lineup in 2026
Abriano is not the only reporter to make the case for Benge to win the starting job. The Athletic’s Tim Britton also believes the budding star should be New York’s opening day right fielder. According to Britton, Benge has done everything he can to impress Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. The team can also still include Tauchman on the roster as an insurance policy.
Assuming Benge gets the call, the Mets will have five new starters in the lineup. New York is coming off a disappointing 2025 season in which they embarrassingly missed the playoffs. Despite the failure, they did score the ninth-most runs in baseball a year ago.
Nevertheless, additions of Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Jorge Polanco, Luis Robert, and Benge have shaken things up in Queens. Benge is expected to turn into a significant piece of the puzzle for the Mets in 2026 and beyond.
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