Carson Benge Drafted No. 19 Overall by New York Mets

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State sophomore Carson Benge is headed to the Major Leagues as he was selected by the New York Mets with the No. 19 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 Major League Baseball Draft.

With the selection, Benge became the 20^th Cowboy in program history to be selected in the first round.

This past season as a third-year sophomore, Benge was great for the Pokes both at the plate and on the mound. He was second on the team with a .335 batting average in 248 at-bats, with 18 home runs, 24 doubles and two triples. He had a .665 slugging percentage with 51 strikeouts and 49 walks.

From the mound, Benge was one of the Pokes’ top pitchers with a 3.16 ERA in 18 appearances. He finished the season with a 3-2 record and three saves, while holding opponents to a .186 batting average across 37 innings pitched. He gave up 26 hits, 14 runs, 13 of which were earned, with 44 strikeouts and 11 walks.

This is what MLB.com had to say about Benge ahead of the draft:

“He's a legitimate prospect both ways, showing first-round potential at the plate and third-round upside on the mound. Few college hitters in this class can match Benge's combination of bat-to-ball skills and high exit velocities. A left-handed hitter, he controls the strike zone and uses the opposite field exceptionally well. He should have solid power thanks to his combination of hitting ability and bat speed, and he did a better job of turning on and lifting more pitches as this spring progressed.

“Benge has average speed and is quicker once he gets going. He's a solid defender with plus arm strength in right field, and he perhaps could fill in as a center fielder on occasion. He's intriguing as a quick-armed right-hander with a fastball that reaches 96 mph, a solid slider and the makings of an average changeup and control, but he prefers hitting and has focused more on that this spring.”