Carson Benge just pulled off something wild, becoming only the fourth player since 1997 to record a solo assist at home plate on consecutive batters. Talk about making a statement! This dude joined some pretty exclusive company with Brian Hunter (1998), Gary Sheffield (2001), and Rocco Baldelli (2004) in that rare club. But Benge wasn’t just doing once-in-a-generation stuff, he also became the first Mets outfielder ever with two outfield assists to the catcher in the same inning. That’s just flat-out insane.
Benge’s Blazing Rookie Start and a Flood of Fresh Talent
The Mets rookie sensation isn’t stopping at defense. With his fourth-inning homer, Benge joined Darryl Strawberry (who went 26 homers and 19 stolen bases in 1984) as only the second Met with 15 home runs and 15 stolen bases in their rookie season. That’s serious power and speed right out of the gate. And it’s not just Benge tearing it up. Nate Lavender became the seventh Mets rookie to earn a win this season, a list that also includes Nolan McLean, Zac Thornton, Jonah Tong, Chayce McDermott, Jonathan Pintaro, and Jefry Yan. That’s the most rookies on a single team to earn a win across the league this season, and it ties them for third-most in franchise history, trailing only 1995 (9) and 1983 (8). How about that for a youth movement?
Unsung Heroes and Unstoppable Streaks
The rookie impact extends to the mound, too. Zac Thornton’s 14 whiffs marked his most in a game across his nine career starts, while his seven strikeouts tied his career high in a single outing. Christian Scott is also on a tear, striking out five or more batters for an 11th consecutive outing. That puts him in elite company, as he’s one of only seven MLB pitchers with an active streak that long, alongside names like Dylan Cease (31), Jacob Misiorowksi (24), Jesús Luzardo (13), Gerrit Cole (12), Tarik Skubal (12), and Gavin Williams (11). Meanwhile, Luis Torrens is absolutely mashing the ball, hitting his sixth homer in just 10 games for the first time in his career. He’s the first Mets catcher to club six or more long balls in a 10-game span since Francisco Alvarez did it from July 4-19, 2023. What’s even crazier? Before this red-hot stretch, Torrens had only ten homers in 204 games with the Mets. This team is finding ways to win, including their 4-3 victory over the Nationals, and they’ve now won seven of their last eight series openers against the Padres, after getting bounced by them in the 2022 Wild Card Series. With the way these rookies are showing up and veterans are stepping up, it’s going to be a fun ride.
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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