Carson Benge had no idea what was coming when he walked into Mets manager Carlos Mendoza’s office during spring training. The rookie outfielder, just 23 years old, found himself in a pivotal moment of his budding career.
Mendoza kicked things off by praising Benge’s professionalism and maturity, qualities that are invaluable for any player hoping to make it in the big leagues. He asked Benge to recall his first batting-practice session at Citi Field after being drafted 19th overall in 2024.
Benge paused, then shared a candid memory: “Holy $#!%, I want to be here.”
Mendoza grinned and delivered the news every young player dreams of: “Guess what, Thursday, you’re going to get that opportunity. You’ve made the team.
You’re going to be in the lineup and you’re going to play right field for the New York Mets. Let’s go.”
With that, the two shared a hug, sealing a moment Benge will never forget. “You earned it. You’re a big leaguer,” Mendoza affirmed.
And Benge wasted no time proving his worth. Against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he smashed a sixth-inning home run, helping the Mets to an 11-7 victory. This feat made him only the second player in Mets history to homer on Opening Day in his debut, joining Kazuo Matsui from 2004.
In a quirky twist, a dead bird fell next to Benge in right field, but he brushed off any potential bad omens, even as fans playfully urged him to deal with the remains.
After Benge’s memorable first MLB hit, Francisco Alvarez added his own flair with a home run, rounding off the Mets’ scoring for the day. Impressively, eight different Mets players contributed with RBIs, showcasing the team’s depth and potential for the season ahead.