Carson Benge Stats & Scouting Report

AB	55
AVG	.273
OBP	.42
SLG	.436
HR	2

Full name Carson Grant Benge
Born 01/20/2003 in Oklahoma City, OK
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 184 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Oklahoma State
Drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) by the New York Mets in 2024 (signed for $3,997,500).

View Draft Report

School: Oklahoma State
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Benge redshirted in 2022 during his first season with Oklahoma State as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He has both hit and pitched for the program in each of the last two seasons, though his focus and the bulk of his playing time has come as a hitter. A 6-foot-1, 184-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Benge has hit well over .300 in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference, with great plate discipline and solid power to go along with his contact skills. He has a noisy swing that features a wide and open setup, a sizable leg kick and some hand movement throughout his load, but he’s made it work in college with a solid 82% overall contact rate and more than enough bat speed to handle big league velocity. Benge might need to quiet his operation at the next level, but his combination of bat-to-ball skills and impact provides a solid foundation for a quality hit-and-power pair. Benge has mostly played right field and probably is best suited for that position given his plus arm and average speed, but scouts think he is a standout athlete who might be able to handle all three outfield spots. On the mound, Benge has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. He was most effective as a reliever with Oklahoma State, but his pro upside is greater as a hitter—the opposite of 2023 Mets third-rounder and former OSU two-way player Nolan McLean.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 50/High.

Track Record: Benge was the first draft pick made by first-year Mets scouting director Kris Gross and was taken 19th overall and signed for a near-slot bonus of roughly $4 million. Benge played both ways at Oklahoma State, serving as right fielder and reliever. He was OSU teammates and roommates with 2023 Mets third-rounder Nolan McLean. Unlike McLean, Benge will focus on hitting rather than pitching in pro ball. He got into 15 games for Low-A St. Lucie after signing and popped his first two pro homers while putting up an .857 OPS.

Scouting Report: Adding strength and power will be keys for Benge, because he already demonstrates strong bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions. The Mets say Benge has added about 10 pounds of good weight since signing and participated in offseason strength-and-conditioning camps. From an open batting stance, Benge uses a hand pump as a timing mechanism but he gets his hands into good hitting positions. His power to the opposite field is notable. Benge’s first two pro home runs were lined to left-center field at St. Lucie, testament to his ability to stay on the ball and hit with authority to all fields. He did not pull a ball in the air in his debut and will need to meet the ball out front occasionally to realize his power upside. Benge played mostly right field in college but the Mets believe he has the range, athleticism and instincts to play center field in pro ball. He is an above-average runner underway whose arm is a major asset and a borderline double-plus tool.

The Future: Benge shares some attributes with Mets 2014 first-rounder Michael Conforto as an athletic, lefthanded-hitting college outfielder with all-around ability. Ultimately, the whole may be greater than the sum of the parts, with Benge’s athleticism and work ethic being separators.

Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Fielding: 50 | Arm: 70

Draft Prospects

School: Oklahoma State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.5
BA Grade: 50/High
Tools: Hit: 55. Power: 50. Run: 50. Field: 50. Arm: 60.

Benge redshirted in 2022 during his first season with Oklahoma State as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. He has both hit and pitched for the program in each of the last two seasons, though his focus and the bulk of his playing time has come as a hitter. A 6-foot-1, 184-pound outfielder and lefthanded hitter, Benge has hit well over .300 in both of his seasons in the Big 12 Conference, with great plate discipline and solid power to go along with his contact skills. He has a noisy swing that features a wide and open setup, a sizable leg kick and some hand movement throughout his load, but he’s made it work in college with a solid 82% overall contact rate and more than enough bat speed to handle big league velocity. Benge might need to quiet his operation at the next level, but his combination of bat-to-ball skills and impact provides a solid foundation for a quality hit-and-power pair. Benge has mostly played right field and probably is best suited for that position given his plus arm and average speed, but scouts think he is a standout athlete who might be able to handle all three outfield spots. On the mound, Benge has a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball, upper-70s curve, mid-80s changeup and low-80s slider. He was most effective as a reliever with Oklahoma State, but his pro upside is greater as a hitter—the opposite of 2023 Mets third-rounder and former OSU two-way player Nolan McLean.