On March 23, the New York Mets announced that top prospect Carson Benge made the Opening Day roster and will be the starting right fielder. Benge’s strong performance this spring training made it a tough choice for manager Carlos Mendoza.
During spring training, the 23-year-old had 41 at-bats, hitting .366 with five RBIs, five runs, a .435 on-base percentage, and an .874 OPS, per the league’s website.
The Mets will open up the 2026 MLB season facing the Pittsburgh Pirates with Paul Skenes getting the ball on Opening Day. Now that Benge knows he’s on the team, he was asked about potentially facing arguably the best pitcher in baseball.
“Starting out with the best, it’s pretty cool being able to go up [to the plate] and just try to win every pitch, win every AB, [and] find any way you can to win,” Benge told reporters on March 23 (h/t SNY).
Moreover, Benge spoke about being part of the Opening Day roster as the Mets are counting on him from game No. 1 to be an impact player in right field.
“Just knowing that I worked hard for it, the countless hours I spent, and all my family members and friends who have sacrificed some time for me, knowing that it’s all going to come true,” Benge added (h/t SNY). “My dream since I was little is pretty cool.”
Mets’ Carlos Mendoza Talks Giving Carson Benge the Good News
Meanwhile, Mendoza also spoke with the media and shared the emotions that came with telling Benge the good news that the team is counting on him on Opening Day.
“A moment he will never forget,” Mendoza told reporters (h/t SNY). And as a manager, after delivering some tough news the past few days, sending guys down to the minor leagues, it’s a big day for the organization. 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.
“So credit to our scouting director, player development, and everyone in the organization who had a hand in this guy. He earned it. He had a hell of a camp, and we are all excited to watch this kid play.”
Kodai Senga Gets Positive Words From Juan Soto
Another player who had an amazing spring training is Kodai Senga, and if the Mets want to return to the postseason in 2026, they’ll need a bounce-back season from the veteran.
Senga has made three appearances on the mound for the Mets in spring training, going 9 2/3 innings while posting a 1.86 ERA, a 0.72 WHIP, and striking out 11 batters, per MLB.com.
Nonetheless, Mets star Juan Soto is backing Senga and giving the veteran a confidence boost as the pitcher looks to stay healthy in 2026 and be one of the reasons why New York finds itself back in the postseason later this fall.
“That’s our ace,” Soto told reporters on March 19 (h/t SNY). “If he stays healthy, he’s going to help the team go all the way. He has the stuff to do it. He’s got to try to keep himself in the game.”
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Mets’ Carson Benge Makes Feelings Clear on Facing Paul Skenes appeared first on Heavy Sports.