Carson Benge's Updated Scouting Profile 2 Months Into MLB Career

We have a decent sample size to start Carson Benge’s major league career now, and after a rough first handful of games, there is a lot to be optimistic about. Let’s dive into Benge’s strengths, what numbers are really popping out, and what he still needs to work on as he progresses through his rookie campaign. 

Carson Benge's Background

To give a little more context on Benge, this is another example of somebody who sprinted up through the Minor League Baseball ranks. The Oklahoma State alum, who went to the same college as Nolan McLean, was the 19th pick in the 2024 MLB Draft. He cracked the big league Opening Day roster, and so far this season he’s sporting a batting average around .250, an on-base percentage just above .300, and looks to be a pretty well-rounded outfielder in the Big Apple.

Hard-Hit Balls

Where is Benge excelling? Quality of contact is a big area to look at early on. His average exit velocity is hovering around the 90 miles per hour mark, putting him in the top half among big-league hitters. His expected batting average of .265 implies that he’s hit into a decent amount of bad luck as well. Benge also has a knack for finding the right part of the bat, as shown by his above-average squared-up and hard-hit rates.

Making Contact

Benge, the former two-way standout, also has shown great plate discipline. He hasn’t ventured outside of the zone much, as his 27.0% chase percentage is well better than the league average. He hasn’t come up empty much either, as the 23-year-old right fielder whiffs just 19.8% of the time, putting him in the top 25% of all hitters. Benge has sprayed the ball pretty much all over the field, though all three of his long balls in 2026 have gone to the pull side in deep right center field.

Benge’s blistering speed has come in handy to this point as well. His top 20% sprint speed helps him on the basepaths, and he has eight stolen bags on the young season to show for it. The hustle shows in the outfield as well, leading to above-average marks in right field.

Arm Strength

Another plus to Benge’s game, also referencing his value in right, is his legendary arm strength. This is arguably the most impressive thing about the 23-year-old, as his arm strength is rated in the top percentile of all outfielders. This is someone who can do a little bit of everything, and while I wouldn’t quite say he’s at five-tool player status yet, he’s certainly multi-faceted. 

Area for Improvement: Patience

One aspect for the young left-handed hitter to work on would be his ability to draw walks. While he isn’t chasing a ton, this is someone walking just 7.0% of the time. That is well below the league average in the 25th percentile. Again, it’s not that he’s venturing out of the zone a whole lot. This is more or less an indicator that Benge is looking for something over the plate early, and doesn’t have much of a desire to work deep into counts. Sometimes, for a rookie, it’s best to keep the art of an at-bat simple. If it’s a matter of looking for a first-pitch fastball, so be it.

One other aspect to work on is success of opposing pitchers’ secondary stuff, as Benge is hitting just .172 against off-speed offerings with a single extra-base hit in 30 batted ball events.