Carson Benge set a new franchise record for hits by a rookie in the New York Mets’ 10-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citi Field on Saturday. The young outfielder collected three hits during the game, including a home run, bringing his total to 156 hits for the season and surpassing Pete Alonso’s previous rookie record of 155 hits set in 2019.
Benge reached the milestone in his 149th game, leaving him approximately one week to further extend the record. In the second inning, he connected on a home run off Phillies pitcher Andrew Painter, marking his 19th homer of the season and tying him with Ike Davis (2010) and Ron Swoboda (1965) for the fourth-most home runs by a Mets rookie. Later in the seventh inning, Benge singled to right-center field off left-hander José Alvarado, matching Alonso’s hit total. In the eighth inning, he recorded the historic hit with a swinging bunt down the third-base line off right-hander Orion Kerkering, driving the ball just over one foot off the ground.
Benge’s breakout season has been a bright spot in an otherwise difficult campaign for the Mets, who have struggled to find consistent success this year. His combination of contact hitting, speed, and defensive ability, including a strong throwing arm, has made him a versatile contributor for the team. Interim Mets manager Andy Green praised Benge’s approach, emphasizing his ability to adjust quickly and challenge pitchers. “There’s just no clean way to get him out,” Green said. “He’s proven himself against major league pitching of all kinds.”
The rookie’s progress over the season has been notable. After opening the year with a .189 batting average and 0.525 OPS in April, Benge improved steadily, closing September with a .276 batting average and .759 OPS. Christian Scott, who pitched for the Mets in Saturday’s game and gave up three runs in just under five innings, highlighted Benge’s capacity to adapt and learn during each at-bat.
Benge acknowledged the challenges he faced early in the season but expressed confidence in his resilience. “It just proves I’m tough,” he said. “I won’t let things get me down too much.” Despite the nature of his record-setting hit—a softly hit bunt—teammates have shown respect by refraining from teasing him, as none hold the record themselves.
As the season winds down, Benge’s historic rookie campaign continues to attract attention and has sparked discussions around his candidacy for the National League Rookie of the Year award.