Juan Soto isn’t known for his glove, but even he knows excellent defense when he sees it.
And these days, it’s happening right alongside him, as A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge continue to make highlight-reel plays.
“They’re great,” Soto said. “They call each other psychopaths. It’s crazy how hard they go into the wall and run around the field. It’s incredible. It’s really fun to watch.”
Ewing did it again in Sunday’s 10-1 win over the Marlins, robbing Connor Norby of a run-scoring extra-base hit with two on and no one out in the fourth, when Ewing raced back to make a leaping grab, crashing hard into the wall in the process.
It might be expected that Ewing might have been a little wobbly after the play, but the rookie insisted he was fine — and is now more inclined to go hard after shots like that at Citi Field.
“I feel great,’’ Ewing said of the possible aftereffects of the play. “The wall has a good amount of give. I think I could run into that thing at 30 mph and be all right. I won’t try it, but I like the odds.”
The Mets loved Ewing’s athleticism as he rocketed up their minor league system and they were confident he’d be able to handle the rigors of jumping to the majors so soon in his professional career because of his attitude and grittiness.
His fellow rookie, Benge, has similar attributes and nearly made a diving catch in right-center Sunday.
Their fearlessness was noted by Soto, who said he treats the pair as peers rather than taking a teacher/pupil role.
“I don’t try to be a mentor,” Soto said. “I try to be one of them. They are a part of this. It’s the first time for them being in the big leagues.”
Though Ewing and Benge likely will never approach Soto’s standards at the plate, they can still have a significant impact.
Benge followed a three-hit performance Saturday by getting on base twice — including a leadoff homer — Sunday.
The first-inning blast, his fourth of the year, was also the lefty-swinging Benge’s first against a left-handed pitcher.
Ewing has faltered of late offensively, with no extra-base hits in his last dozen games and 17 strikeouts in that span — including three Sunday — but he also walked and scored a run.
Plus, there’s the defense.
“It’s a game-changer,’’ Carlos Mendoza said. “Part of the reason the pitching staff is having this success is they’re making the plays in the outfield.”
Marcus Semien has a unique viewpoint of what Ewing and Benge are doing defensively.
“A lot of those balls are hit over my head [at second base] and feel like doubles and triples and they run them down,” Semien said. “Their talent is through the roof. Experience is how they get better.”
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And after Ewing’s acrobatic play Sunday left him unharmed, he insisted he’ll do it again.
“Having gone into the wall like that and being OK, I’m even more confident about doing it,” Ewing said. “I’m definitely not gonna be afraid of it.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
