Mets sign first-round pick, two-way sensation Benge

future is totally committed. The Mets have signed

Carson Benge, a two-way player, to his first

professional contract, the team announced on

Instagram on Wednesday. According to a person

familiar with the deal, Benge will visit club

executives and prospective teammates at Citi

Field on Thursday. Terms of the signing bonus

were not immediately known. The slot value for

Benge’s Draft position at No. 19 overall is $4.22

million. A two-way player at Oklahoma State,

Benge posted a .335/.444/.665 slash line as a

junior with 18 home runs in 61 games, while

also contributing a 3.16 ERA in four starts and

14 relief appearances. While Mets officials see

Benge more as a future outfielder than a pitcher,

the 21-year-old said on Draft night that he hopes

to have a chance to do both in the pros.

Among the most gifted individuals I have ever

encountered in terms of pure baseball ability

and athleticism is Benge, according to Nolan

McLean, a fellow two-way player in the Mets

system who went to college with Bert. “I wish I

could say I lead by example, but Carson will

always be himself and his own man,” the speaker

been signed thus far, including the top three

picks, Benge, right-hander Nate Dohm, and left-

hand pitcher Jonathan Santucci.

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