Carson Benge’s pitching background is proving to be more than a footnote in his first year with the Mets. The 23-year-old has turned that old arm talent into a real outfield weapon, with his throws averaging 94.7 mph and reaching 101.6 mph, a level of strength that helps explain why the Mets view him as a core part of their future.
Benge, a 2024 first-round pick, was a two-way player at Oklahoma State before becoming a professional outfielder. That experience matters. The arm action, the body control and the habit of delivering under pressure have carried over, and so far it has shown up in a measurable way: he ranks in the 93rd percentile for arm strength, is seventh in MLB in average outfield throw speed and has already produced two outfield assists.
It is the kind of development that makes a prospect easier to trust. The Mets are hoping to return to contention in 2027 after becoming trade-deadline sellers, and Benge’s early impact gives them reason to believe they may already have one of the players who can help form that next winning core.
Why the pitching background matters
Benge’s path was not a straight line to the outfield. In 2023, he converted from a starter to a reliever and also played in the Cape Cod Baseball League in the summer of 2023. Then in 2024, he posted a 3.16 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 37 innings before becoming the Mets’ first-round pick.
That pitching work has left a mark on his defensive game. Asked about the crossover, Benge said his arm strength has helped him, and he added, “It’s pretty cool. It kind of fires me up.”
For an outfielder, that kind of background can matter as much as raw talent. Pitchers are used to repeating their mechanics, controlling their delivery and making every throw with purpose. In Benge’s case, that seems to have translated into cleaner, stronger outfield throws and the confidence to attack plays rather than simply contain them.
Green sees arm strength as a growing advantage
Mets interim manager Andy Green has been impressed with what he has seen. Green said Benge “had that on draft day,” a reminder that the organization was already aware of the arm talent long before it started showing up in the box score and on the scouting reports.
Green’s wider point was that the ceiling is still rising. “The hope is, as you continue to make more high-leverage throws, you get more accurate with it,” he said. That is the balance for a young outfielder with a powerful arm: use the strength, then sharpen the execution.
Green also made clear that Benge’s temperament is part of the appeal. “Typically, the way he is, high leverage, low leverage doesn’t really matter to him. You get the best version of him in all those situations,” Green said.
That matters for a team looking ahead. The Mets do not just need tools; they need players who can handle responsibility. Benge has already shown that he can do that, and his two assists against the Dodgers on July 24 only added to the sense that his arm is becoming a genuine asset.
A rookie profile built for bigger things
There is still a long way to go, but Benge’s early profile is easy to understand. He is a young player with a strong arm, a pitching background, and a willingness to embrace the outfield version of pressure. He even said he does not miss taking the mound, which is probably just as well for the Mets, given what they have gained on the other side of the ball.
His development is not just about one trait. It is about how that pitching history has helped make him a more complete player, and why the Mets may already be seeing the shape of a future regular. On a roster still being rebuilt toward 2027, that is the sort of progression that matters.
