This story was excerpted from Anthony DiComo’s Mets Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
CHICAGO -- Over the past week or so, Carson Benge has thrown out multiple runners on the bases, crashed into a fence, hit a homer over that same fence, recorded several multi-hit and multi-RBI games, and stolen a base for good measure. In just about any game Benge has played, he has looked like one of the best players on the field.
“He’s a special guy,” interim manager Andy Green said over the weekend. “It’s a lot of fun watching him play baseball.”
Benge’s August has been of such quality that it’s inserted him into the thick of the National League Rookie of the Year race. On Sunday, his lip and right eye still swollen from a crash into the wall the night before, Benge collected two more hits and a late game-tying run in a 2-1 loss to the White Sox.
In addition to his offensive exploits, Benge leads all Major League rookies with nine outfield assists, including five throws of at least 98 mph (and one, at 103.9 mph, that was the third-hardest thrown outfield assist since Statcast began tracking in 2015). It’s not a stretch to say that Benge, a former college pitcher, might have the best arm in baseball.
Put it all together, and Benge sports a fine case to become the Mets’ first Rookie of the Year since Pete Alonso in 2019. In addition to his assist total, Benge ranks third among NL rookies in homers, second in stolen bases and sixth in OPS. He is as well-rounded a candidate as they come.
But Benge may not be the favorite -- partially because of two other fine candidates in St. Louis and Cincinnati, and partially because his own teammate, Nolan McLean, is making an increasingly strong case of his own.
“I think any competitor would like to win the award,” McLean said.
McLean, a preseason Rookie of the Year favorite who became something of an afterthought upon posting a 4.03 ERA over his first 16 starts, has bulled his way back into the mix with a 1.97 ERA in 10 starts since that time. He, Benge, JJ Wetherholt and Sal Stewart appear to have separated themselves from the rest of a crowded NL rookie pack. (WAR and Fielding Run Value totals were entering Sunday’s play.)
Carson Benge, OF, Mets
.278/.337/.428
16 HR, 68 R, 53 RBI, 19 SB
fWAR: 3.1
bWAR: 3.0
Fielding Run Value: +5
Sal Stewart, 1B, Reds
.263/.336/.472
27 HR, 73 R, 98 RBI, 12 SB
fWAR: 2.1
bWAR: 1.9
Fielding Run Value: 0
JJ Wetherholt, 2B, Cardinals
.244/.347/.377
17 HR, 87 R, 48 RBI, 14 SB
fWAR: 4.5
bWAR: 4.8
Fielding Run Value: +21
Nolan McLean, RHP, Mets
9-8, 3.21 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
148 2/3 IP, 168 K, 58 BB
fWAR: 2.6
bWAR: 2.0
Comparing these four candidates is difficult because they all do different things well. Though Wetherholt features the highest WAR totals, that’s largely because of his standout defense at an up-the-middle position. Offensively, he’s been similar to Benge. Neither has been as productive at the dish as Stewart, who leads the Majors in RBIs and has nearly lapped the rookie field in home runs. But Stewart provides far less than Benge and Wetherholt on defense, depressing his WAR.
Then there is McLean, who has been the best NL rookie pitcher by a significant margin. Even before delivering six shutout innings on Sunday, McLean led his fellow rookies in strikeouts, games started, innings, quality starts and fWAR. How voters compare McLean’s contributions to those of his position-player peers could play a meaningful role in the final tally.
Ultimately, with more than 30 games remaining for all three offensive competitors, and as many as six starts left for McLean, this will come down to the final five weeks of the season. All that’s clear now is if Benge keeps crashing into fences, hitting homers and racking up outfield assists, he will be in the running come late September.
Remember, the Rookie of the Year Award has become more than just a novelty. Because McLean and Benge were on the Opening Day roster, they are both eligible for MLB’s Prospect Promotion Incentive program, which incentivizes teams to call up blue-chip prospects as quickly as possible. If either of them wins Rookie of the Year, the Mets will receive a bonus selection after the first round of next year’s Draft.