PORT ST. LUCIE — Carson Benge, the unassuming kid with quiet confidence and tools forever from small-town Oklahoma, looks ready for the big time now. The Mets aren’t quite committing to an Opening Day debut for their most exciting rookie since Pete Alonso seven springs ago, and maybe before even that. But there’s no apparent reason Benge shouldn’t be in Queens in two weeks, starting against Pirates superstar Paul Skenes.
We’ll take the Mets at their word that no official call has been made yet. But things seem clearer by the day. The kid’s checking every last box, and it shouldn’t be long before Benge moves to baseball’s big stage and bids to become the second most famous person from off-the-grid Yukon, Okla., right after the megastar who created even more buzz in Mets spring camp two decades ago — yes, Garth Brooks.
Mets bosses are characteristically playing Benge’s status almost as low-key as Benge seems to be. Club honcho David Stearns only admits he expects Benge to contribute this year, but there’s no reason to believe Benge’s time isn’t upon us now.
If he hasn’t overwhelmed with any particular skill as Alonso did in 2019, when he turned Mets camp into his own personal home run derby on his way to his surprise Opening Day ascension and eventual 53-homer Rookie of the Year campaign, Benge impresses with above-average all-around skill, a rare athletic aptitude and zero obvious flaws.
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