The National League Rookie of the Year race is still alive, and Carson Benge is a big reason why.
For the New York Mets, the late-season focus has shifted away from the standings and toward the future. The wins and losses no longer define the year, but there is still plenty riding on how these young players finish, especially as they fight to strengthen their case for the 2027 roster. That backdrop has made the final stretch more watchable, and Benge has become one of the names worth tracking.
He is not the only Met in the mix. Nolan McLean has also put together a strong rookie campaign and remains part of the conversation for the award. But Benge has positioned himself as a legitimate challenger in a race that is starting to take shape.
At this point, the field looks like a three-player battle. St.
Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt had been in the mix, but he is now on the Injured List with right wrist tendinitis and does not have a clear return timetable. That likely removes him from serious contention in the coming days and weeks.
That leaves Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart as the frontrunner. Stewart has put together a remarkable rookie year, hitting .268/.338/.484/.823 with 31 home runs and 106 RBIs.
He also turned in a huge August, batting .304 with eight homers, 21 RBIs, and an .880 OPS. McLean is still lurking too, with a 1.87 ERA and just 15 earned runs allowed along with 73 strikeouts over his last 12 starts.
Benge, though, has forced his way into the discussion. His season line - .276/.335/.416/.750 with 16 homers, 18 doubles, three triples, 20 stolen bases, 40 walks, 71 runs scored, and 54 RBIs - stacks up well against the rest of the rookie class. It is better than Wetherholt’s, and no other rookie really matches that all-around production.
The other thing working in Benge’s favor is how he has finished. He has gotten stronger as the season has gone on and settled in as a steady presence for the Mets. Over 42 games in the second half, he has hit .302 with a .797 OPS, a sign that he has grown more comfortable and adjusted quickly to big league pitching.
Defense is where the debate gets more complicated. Benge has 0 outs above average, which trails Wetherholt’s 22 and sits ahead of Stewart’s -1.
But the eye test matters here, and Benge has made a handful of game-changing plays in the outfield while showing off the kind of arm that can erase runners at the plate. The numbers may not fully capture it, but his defensive work has been part of his case.
With only weeks left in the 2026 season, the Rookie of the Year race is shaping up to be one of the more interesting storylines down the stretch. Stewart may still be the favorite, but Benge - alongside McLean - has made sure this one won’t be settled easily. If he finishes strong, the final vote could get very interesting indeed.
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