Carson Grant Benge (born January 20, 2003) is an American professional baseball outfielder in the New York Mets organization. He was drafted by the Mets in the 2024 MLB draft in the first round with the 19th overall pick. He played college baseball as an outfielder and pitcher for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Amateur career

Benge attended Yukon High School in Yukon, Oklahoma, where he played baseball.[1] He committed to play college baseball at Oklahoma State University prior to his senior year.[2] As a senior in 2021, Benge pitched to an 8–1 record with 124 strikeouts alongside batting .490.[3] He went unselected in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft and enrolled at Oklahoma State.

Benge redshirted and did not appear in a game in 2022 after undergoing Tommy John surgery.[4] He made his collegiate debut in 2023, pitching to a 6.69 ERA over 35 innings and appearing in 59 games primarily in right field.[5] He batted .345 with seven home runs and 43 RBIs.[6] That summer, he briefly played for the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[7] Benge entered the 2024 season as a top prospect for the upcoming draft.[8] Over 61 games, he hit .335 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs alongside posting a 3.16 ERA over 37 innings.[9]

Professional career

Benge was selected by the New York Mets in the first round with the 19th overall pick of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft.[10] He signed with the Mets on July 23 for $4 million, and confirmed that he would focus solely on playing outfield as opposed to continuing to be a two-way player.[11]

Personal life

Benge is a Cherokee Nation citizen.[12] Benge's older brother, Garrett, was drafted in the 2017 Major League Baseball draft in the 13th round by the Boston Red Sox.[13]

References


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