Carson Benge Offers Fantasy Risk, Reward

Carson Benge was the second-ranked prospect in the New York Mets organization when he was called up to play outfield on Opening Day. The Top 25 overall prospect has held the position ever since, and the Mets are hoping he holds it for a very long time.

From an offensive perspective, however, things have not been as smooth. Through 15 games, Benge is just 7-of-49 from the plate (.143) with twice as many strikeouts as hits.

Benge is available in over 90% of ESPN Fantasy Baseball Leagues. If he plays to his potential, he could be a major boost to a lineup down the stretch.

So the question: are these struggles a blip as Benge figures out major-league pitching, or are there larger concerns in play?

So Far, Not Great for Carson Benge

At just 23 years old, Benge burst onto the 2026 fantasy scene as the Mets’ Opening Day right fielder, turning heads with an impressive spring that earned him a roster spot and immediate playing time in a crowded but injury-prone Mets outfield.

Prior to this spring, the 2024 first-round pick out of Oklahoma State was already delivering flashes of the well-rounded tools that made him one of baseball’s premier prospects.

But there was an asterisk with the success. Benge played minor-league ball at three different levels in 2025. For High-A Brooklyn, Benge batted .302 with a .897 OPS in 60 games. He played 32 games for AA Binghampton and batted .317 with a robust .978 OPS.

Then he moved to AAA Syracuse, and fortunes turned. In 24 games, he hit just .178 and a .583 OPS.

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Benge appeared to have figured out high-level pitching in the off-season. He hit over .350 in spring training with an on-base percentage closer to .450. He looked ready to make the biggest move of all.

But his time in The Show has been bumpy.

The Case for Adding Carson Benge

The struggles aren’t atypical. Some hyped rookies had issues in the spring but bounced back quickly.

In 2023, Gunnar Henderson was hitting .201 through May with five home runs. In June, something clicked. He batted .320 that month, hit at least five homers in every month from there on out and won AL Rookie of the Year.

Alex Bregman famously started his rookie year 1-of-32, but ended up batting .284.

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Original projections for a full rookie season pointed to an average of .265, with 15-18 HR, 70-80 RBI, 75-85 runs, and 18-22 steals over 130-145 games. Those totals have now gone down. But aside from average, they’re not way down.

Benge has been batting seventh or ninth in the Mets order, low enough that should allow him to continue improving and gaining experience through the tested-and-true, trail-by-fire method.

Regardless of how long it takes his bat to get going, durability looks solid and his plus arm and athleticism give him defensive versatility across all three outfield spots. He should keep playing.

Beyond this year, his long-term outlook is excellent as part of a young, talented core. A strong rookie campaign could accelerate his rise into a perennial 20/20 threat with a .270+ average.

Benge is the ideal “sleeper with upside” pick: buy the tools, trust the spring performance and pedigree, and ride the rough seas now as he matures into a fantasy anchor for years to come – if not later this summer.

This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Apr 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Fantasy section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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