Feb 27, 2026; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge (93) makes a diving catch to retire St. Louis Cardinals left fielder Nelson Velázquez (not pictured) during the second inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has been pleased with the spring training that top outfield prospect Carson Benge is having, but no decision has been made whether or not he will break camp with the big-league club and be included on the Opening Day roster.
“I think Carson is having a nice camp,” Stearns said on Monday. “He’s worked very hard… We’ve seen what we would’ve expected. He’s taken competitive at-bats, he’s a tough out, I think he’s played a nice right field. He’s done what we’ve expected him to do. I think he’s going to be a really good player, and we’re going to have a difficult decision as we get toward the end of camp.”
Benge is still a favorite to emerge as the Mets’ starting right fielder this season after shooting up the organization’s minor-league ranks last year. In 116 games with Single-A Brooklyn, Double-A Binghamton, and Triple-A Syracuse, he slashed .281/.385/.472 with 15 home runs, 73 RBI, and 22 stolen bases.
In Grapefruit League play this spring, he is 7-for-20 (.350) with three runs scored and a stolen base.
“I expect him to contribute to our team this year,” Stearns said. “There’s no question about that. The way he’s developed throughout his professional career indicates that he’s reaching that level. Whether that’s on Opening Day or not, I don’t know.”
Lindor hitting benchmarks
Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is still on track to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing surgery to repair a broken left hamate bone last month.
“All indications that we have is this is going as planned,” Stearns said. “We have a similar level of optimism that he’ll be ready for Opening Day.”
Stearns added that it would be a “prerequisite” for Lindor to play in spring-training games, specifically Grapefruit League games rather than minor-league matchups.
“We wouldn’t have his first competition be Opening Day,” he added.
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