PORT ST. LUCIE — The idea of Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing together in the same outfield is an intriguing proposition to Mets officials.
On Sunday, for the second time in three days, the team got that look.
Benge started in center field with Ewing in left against the Yankees.
Both contributed to the Mets’ 10-4 exhibition victory at Clover Park.
Benge, a top prospect competing for the starting right field job, finished 2-for-3.
Ewing, who also rates among the organization’s top prospects, delivered a two-run single against lefty Ryan Weathers.
“They have the ability to impact the game in so many different ways,” manager Carlos Mendoza said. “It wasn’t an easy matchup there with left-on-left with Weathers and the way he was throwing the ball. A couple of two-strike approaches when they put the ball in play and just make things happen. The way they run the bases, the way they play defense, it’s just good baseball from them so far.”
Benge started in center just to receive a taste of the position in camp, according to Mendoza, with Luis Robert Jr. scheduled for his first Grapefruit League game in a Mets uniform on Thursday.
“I felt like I was on time with everything,” Benge said of his plate appearances against Weathers. “I saw him well, he had really good stuff, but I felt like I stuck to my plan and did my job.”
Robert Stock will undergo surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome.
The right-hander, who had discomfort after pitching three scoreless innings for Team Israel against the Marlins in a WBC scrimmage, said he could be back pitching before the season concludes.
Brandon Waddell was scratched from his scheduled Monday start because of shoulder fatigue, according to Mendoza, and will now pitch later in the week.
Zach Thornton will be summoned from minor league camp to start against the Marlins at Clover Park.
Mendoza is keeping tabs on his WBC pitchers from afar.
A day after Clay Holmes pitched three scoreless innings for Team USA against Great Britain, the Mets manager watched video of Holmes’ outing.
“He was pretty dominant,” Mendoza said.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
