JUPITER, Fla. — The Mets are one step closer to setting their Opening Day lineup. Right-hander Craig Kimbrel was informed Sunday that he will not make the team, and outfielder Mike Tauchman will go on the injured list with a left meniscus tear. Surgery will be required to repair the injury, and the Mets have not yet provided a return timeline, with manager Carlos Mendoza only saying he’s going to be out “for a while.”

Tauchman was in camp with the Mets on a minor league contract, competing with Carson Benge for the right field job. A 35-year-old who played for the Yankees from 2019-2021 and spent last season with the Chicago White Sox, Tauchman had a good camp, hitting .241 with an .820 OPS in 13 Grapefruit League games. The Mets liked his ability to play center field as well, even if he isn’t as athletic as he once was in center.

This likely clears the path for Carson Benge to make the Major League roster, but the Mets are still making final roster decisions. Jared Young, a first baseman and outfielder, is still in camp, and Tyrone Taylor could play right field if the Mets decided to send Benge to Triple-A to start the season.

Benge posted even better numbers, hitting .368 with an .889 OPS. The Mets like his ultra-aggressive approach at the plate, which has led to competitive at-bats against both right- and left-handers.

“He looks like a big leaguer, and it’s not so much of the results,” Mendoza said. “We don’t put too much into results in spring training, but it’s just that quality, and his ability to make adjustments from pitch-to-pitch, whether it’s lefties, righties, the engagement on defense, not only with Gilbert [Gomez] as the outfield coach, but just with guys right next to him when he’s playing center or when he’s playing right. It’s just the overall awareness of his game. It’s been pretty impressive.”

Benge is satisfied with what he’s been able to show the club’s decision makers.

“I’m happy that I carried myself in a really good way,” Benge said following the Mets’ final Grapefruit League game of the season, a 4-3 loss to the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Field. “I showed everyone what kind of person I am, and I feel like that’s what spoke the loudest for me.”

A 23-year-old Oklahoma native, Benge is the Mets’ top overall position player prospect. Juan Soto‘s decision to move to left field set things up well for Benge, who played right field at Oklahoma State, in addition to pitching.

Benge is expected to go north with the Mets for their Wednesday workout at Citi Field, but he hasn’t been informed of the next step. The team will hold an intrasquad scrimmage Monday at Clover Park before departing Port St. Lucie for the year. Benge is eager to find out where he will start the season, but he’s taking the wait in stride.

“I still have no clue. I’m just being patient,” he said. “It’d be nice [to have an answer], but it’s not the end of the world. I’m pretty patient, I’m pretty laid back, so it’s cool.”

Tauchman left Saturday’s game with a sore left knee. The Mets aren’t entirely sure when and how the injury occurred.

“This is a guy that was pretty much in the mix, but we’ll go with the options that we’ve got here,” Mendoza said. “Obviously, we’ve got a lot of guys that are playing well, and we know injuries happen. It sucks for him, and for obviously the team, but we still feel pretty good with the guys that we’ve got here.”

Kimbrel, entering his age-38 season with the second-most saves among all active players with 440 (36 behind Kenley Jansen), is leaning toward staying with the Mets in Syracuse for now. He told the team he likes the environment, but he will also look for other opportunities in the Major Leagues before deciding. The Mets informed him Saturday night that he was not going to make the team. The other option is staying in Florida to build up his pitch count.

Left-hander David Peterson made one final Grapefruit League start Sunday, giving up one earned run over five innings, walking one and striking out four. He’s set to start the second game of the regular season next Saturday at Citi Field.