PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets like a lot of Carson Benge’s game, especially his ability to hit left-handers.
The young right fielder showed that again Wednesday, when he went deep for the first time this spring in the 5-2 win over Team Israel on Wednesday at Clover Park.
The opposite-field shot to left came off Ryan Prager, a Single-A pitcher in the Cleveland organization.
Benge, though, didn’t make much of the shot.
“I can’t focus too much on results,” Benge said. “Just focus on the work I do pregame and postgame. That’s really all that matters to me. Results, yeah, they’re nice, but I’m sticking to my work.”
But as Benge tries to win the right field job out of spring training, performances like Wednesday’s likely don’t hurt.
“I said before the game that he can hit left-on-left,” Carlos Mendoza said. “We saw it today: A two-strike count and he stayed in there. Not only did he put the ball in play, but he was able to drive the ball with authority [the other way]. That’s what he does and it’s exciting.”
“It doesn’t matter to me who’s up there,” Benge said. “Just do my best to win the battle.”
The battle for the right field job is still up for grabs and there’s plenty of time for the right field competition to play out, with Mike Tauchman and MJ Melendez also in the mix, and Tyrone Taylor also a possibility.
The Mets continue to be intrigued by Benge’s ceiling.
“I felt like I came [into camp] trying to be myself,’’ Benge said. “I feel I’ve put in the work and whatever happens is in God’s hands.”
Mendoza said Benge has been “as advertised” this spring.
“He’s a guy with a lot of tools,’’ the manager said. “He helps win ballgames not only offensively, but defensively.”
And while Benge can play center field, Mendoza said he’d keep the prospect in right for now, since that’s the spot that’s open, with Luis Robert Jr. in center and Juan Soto in left.
Robert made his debut of sorts with the Mets in a minor league game on a back field.
He doubled and looked fine on the bases, as well as in center, where he made a catch, but wasn’t tested much in four innings.
Mendoza said Robert will play minor league games every other day for a week, but he has no restrictions when he’s on the field as the Mets look to avoid the lower-body injuries that have plagued him in recent seasons.
Francisco Lindor’s road back from hamate surgery continued Wednesday as he began a swinging program in the batting cages, according to Mendoza.
The shortstop also recently began playing catch as he tries to be ready by Opening Day.
Chris Suero, who played catcher and left field this spring, and reliever Nate Lavender were reassigned to minor league camp.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
