MLB Draft 2024: Mets' 1st-round pick Carson Benge and all you need to know about the exciting two-way prospect

When it comes to top two-way prospects, Carson Benge's name is in the conversation. On Sunday, the multifaceted player got his first taste of life as an MLB baseball player.

With their 19th-overall pick, the New York Mets selected Carson Benge from Oklahoma State University on Sunday evening. While Benge is coming off a career NCAA season in the batters box, the 6-foot-1 right-hander possesses some truly unique and special capabilities.

"𝐌𝐫. 𝐌𝐞𝐭, Carson Benge. 1st Round, Pick 19, New York Mets. #GoPokes" - OSU Cowboys Baseball

Apart from his poise in the box, Benge is also a pitcher. Having competed in a two-way capacity for both of his NCAA seasons, there is optimism that Benge might be able to replicate that model once he makes his MLB debut for the New York Mets.

When he's not pitching, the 21-year-old from Oklahoma City plays outfield. In his 2024 season with OPU, Carson Benge hit .335/.444/.665 with 18 home runs and 64 RBIs. Regarded for his power, Benge touts above-average exit velocity, and has been compared to power-hitters like Paul Goldschmidt or Ryan Mountcastle.

A power hitter to be certain, Benge has shown tremendous poise in same-field hitting, and boasted a 1.107 OPS over the past two seasons for OSU. Moreover, Benge has walked 91 times in two seasons at OSU, compared to the 83 strikeouts he has logged over that period of time.

Benge's pitching is more oriented towards the bullpen, as 14 of his 18 appearances for Oklahoma this year came in a relief capacity. Known for a fastball that can reach between 96 and 97 miles per hour, Carson Benge has also been known to mix a changeup, curveball, and a biting slider into his repertoire of pitches.

Carson Benge's enthusiasm makes him popular with experts

Still just 21, Benge has shown an athletic enthusiasm for playing baseball, and winning, that made him very attractive to a number of teams. After his selection by the Mets, Baseball America writer Pete Flaherty took to X to laud the prospect:

"The cherry on top of Benge's profile is that he's a true baseball rat. It's clear from watching him that he genuinely loves to play, which is unfortunately kind of rare in today's game."

While the fanfare surrounding Benge might not be as defeaning as that surrounding Cleveland Guardians first overall selection Travis Bazzana, it is likely that Benge also has a bright future ahead of him.