Like JJ Wetherholt in St. Louis, Carson Benge was a first-round pick in 2024 out of a Big 12 college.
They’re both 23 years old and are off to fast starts in their rookie seasons.
Perhaps the main difference between the two — other than that Wetherholt is a second baseman and Benge is a right fielder — is that Wetherholt just signed an eight-year, $112.5 million contract extension that takes him through the 2034 season with the Cardinals.
Benge, meanwhile, remains on his rookie deal with the Mets.
Asked if the deal Wetherholt secured was on his mind, Benge laughed and said it wasn’t.
“I’m sure he wasn’t thinking about it before, either,’’ Benge said before the Mets faced the Red Sox on Saturday at Citi Field.
But in what’s been a season to forget so far in Queens — and one that’s almost certain to get worse as the Aug. 3 trade deadline approaches and the team prepares to sell off what it can — the emergence of Benge and fellow rookie A.J. Ewing is a bright spot.
Ewing has settled into the leadoff spot and center field, and the Mets have said the 21-year-old is expected to stay there long term, despite his ability to play second base.
And Benge has continued to hit well after a rough start immediately following his Opening Day debut. As he showed Friday, he can also make an impact in right field with his arm and athleticism.
As the Mets determine their strategy for the trade deadline, which could include finding buyers for Saturday’s starter, Freddy Peralta, as well as any bullpen pieces they can trade — whether it’s an obvious candidate like lefty A.J. Minter or perhaps someone more valuable like Luke Weaver — they’ll also be keeping an eye on the future.
That’s almost certain to include both Benge and Ewing, as well as right-hander Nolan McLean, although there have been no indications the front office is planning to sign any of them to a lengthy — and expensive — deal anytime soon.
Benge said that wasn’t his focus and he, like Ewing, concentrated on more immediate things he could control.
“I just want to go out there and play every day, which is what I’m doing,’’ Benge said. “I’m just happy to be on the field and whichever way it goes down with the future, I’m gonna go out there, play my hardest and have fun.”
And doing so alongside Ewing has made it more satisfying, with Benge confident better days are ahead.
“I feel like we both come in every day ready to work, ready to play and ready to play the game the right way,’’ Benge said. “I feel like if me and A.J. are here together for a long time, we’re gonna bring a lot of wins here.”
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Most of the other lucrative deals handed out to rookies this season have involved players who didn’t go to college, from Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle (eight years, $150 million) to Seattle’s Colt Emerson (eight years, $95 million) and Cooper Pratt (eight years, $50.75 million) with David Stearns’ former team, the Brewers.
Benge entered Saturday with a higher WAR according to FanGraphs than all but McGonigle and Wetherholt on that list.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
