Carson Benge was flirting with a demotion to Triple-A just a few months ago, but his incredible August numbers just cemented him as very easily among the National League’s best rookie players. Seriously, this guy has been on an absolute tear, making a case for top rookie hardware after a start that had everyone wondering if he belonged in the bigs.
Benge’s Bat Explodes as He Puts the League on Notice
Remember April? Benge was hitting a measly .186 with a .247 on-base percentage in 27 games. It was rough, and nobody would have predicted what was coming. Then May hit, and it was like a switch flipped: he mashed .306. Since that turnaround in May, Benge has been hitting nearly .300. August was his best month yet, with a scorching .317 average, a .367 OBP, and a .515 slugging percentage in 26 games. He smashed 5 home runs in August, matching his June total, and grabbed 3 doubles and a triple. Overall for the season, he is rocking a .277 average, 16 bombs, and a ridiculous 19 stolen bases in 23 attempts. That’s a serious power-speed combo, folks. From staring down a Triple-A trip to Rookie of the Year contention? You love to see it.
McLean’s Consistent Excellence and Tong’s Tough Climb
While Benge has been a revelation, Nolan McLean has been quietly putting together a fantastic season, staying in strong contention for National League Rookie of the Year himself. After a solid April (2.55 ERA) and a stumble in May (6.10 ERA), McLean found his groove and hasn’t looked back. He posted a 2.79 ERA in June, followed by an even better 1.78 ERA in July. His August continued that dominant stretch with a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings, even if he walked a few more batters and struck out a bit less than in prior months. For the season, McLean boasts an impressive 3.06 ERA and 172 strikeouts over 155.2 innings in 27 starts. He’s been a well above-average pitcher for sure.
Jonah Tong has had a bit more of a rollercoaster ride between Triple-A and the big league club. After some challenging months in Triple-A earlier in the season, including a 5.68 ERA in April and May, and a 6.50 ERA in June, Tong has been working to find consistency. He showed some serious improvement in Triple-A in August, posting a 2.39 ERA in 26.1 innings, with a respectable 26 strikeouts, after a 3.65 ERA in July. His brief MLB stints have been a mixed bag, but that August performance in Triple-A is a positive sign for the future.
With September kicking off, it’s crunch time for these rookies. Benge and McLean are making a huge push, not just for their team, but for individual hardware. You know they’ll be bringing everything they’ve got for the final stretch of the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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