Carson Benge Makes Mets Rookie History with 20-20 Campaign

Carson Benge has made Mets rookie history, becoming the first player in franchise history to achieve a 20-20 season, marked by his 20th home run of the season in Friday night's 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals.

The 23-year-old outfielder reached the milestone in the fifth inning of the game. This accomplishment places him in the exclusive 20-20 club, signifying 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season.

While Benge is not considered a frontrunner for NL Rookie of the Year, with Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds widely regarded as the favorite, his performance has established him as a significant asset for the Mets' future. He also recently set a franchise rookie record for hits, surpassing Pete Alonso's 2019 mark. Benge currently has 162 hits on the season.

"Anything that can be in the history book and done for the first time is something special," Benge stated. "I hold that close to my heart."

The Mets' loss on Friday also effectively eliminated their chances of avoiding a last-place finish in the National League East. Manager Andy Green acknowledged the team's current standing but focused on the future.

"If it matters to a Mets fan, it matters to me," Green said. "But deep down, if I think about it, there’s playoffs and there’s not playoffs, and there’s nothing we’re going to do to get to that spot.

As we watch other teams celebrate inclusion in playoffs, that should leave a bitter taste in all of our mouths to get back there, and that’s all I’m really concerned with."

In other team news, infielder Ronny Mauricio is scheduled to start Saturday's game, which may be his final appearance with the Mets. The 25-year-old, once a highly touted prospect, has faced challenges with injuries throughout his career, limiting his major league opportunities. He is eligible for arbitration this winter and may be a non-tender candidate.

Mauricio has struggled this season, posting a .454 OPS in 18 games for the Mets. He spent six weeks on the injured list earlier in the season with a thumb fracture and much of his rehab at Triple-A Syracuse.

"He’s definitely missed a lot of time," Green commented on Mauricio's situation. "He’s come back. The athleticism returned. I don’t see any residual effect of that. So, from my vantage point, people come back from injuries all the time. Does it make life harder? Sure. It makes things tougher.

Does he have every opportunity out in front of him to still turn in a good career? Sure. He does. I think the path forward for him is you know impact the baseball consistently, and if you can minimize the chase."

Saturday's game time has been moved to 12:35 p.m. due to the threat of inclement weather.