Image credit: IMAGE IMAGES via Reuters Connect
On occasion, we want to look at the newly-learned perspective from a perspective lens. A player’s development does not stop when the players reach the majors, and young major leaguers can often be discussed as the most interesting guys. So here are some notes on the year six Rookie of the Year finalists, as announced earlier this week.
Carson Benge, OF, New York Mets (preseason No. 10 prospect)
Benge had a topline battle that exceeded preseason expectations, hitting .282/.346/.430, and was receiving a finalist nod for the Golden Glove right. That’s a good 4.3 WAR on both FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference models, and the eye-test matches: Spectacular game and throws on the grass, smooth regression to all fields at the plate. But essentially all of Baseball Prospectus’ core metrics were on him; That line was only good at 108 DRC+ and only grades as a slightly above average defender, composing only 2.6 Stamina. Who is Benge herself?
I think as of 2026 art, BP is right here. Benge had a .341 BABIP, ninth in the majors among qualified hitters, and there really isn’t much about his offensive profile that would suggest that type of investment going forward. In particular, he does not hit the ball hard, or swing the bat quickly. It is more of a course, but not a developer. His leaning plans and contacts are good, but not great; He ran in the 70th-percentile SEager score and 66th-percentile in zone contact rate. His shot showed the most ideal placement, and he pulled the ball in the air at a lower rate. I probably just got kind of lucky in the balls in the game, honestly.
In fact, the lack of a clear tool against major-league positions has thrown some missions straight in the face; It is difficult for this group of artists to jump into the profile of an MVP candidate, and this next year there was a better hope that he would jump. But he has room for improvement—his timing has improved, especially against high-velocity fastballs—and it’s fair to hope that someone will have a better year and a better year. He’s a solid 55-year-old regular who makes the occasional all-star team, with a reasonable chance of becoming a regular contributor.