PORT ST. LUCIE, FLORIDA — New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza informed outfield prospect Carson Benge that he made the Opening Day roster and will start in right field against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday at Citi Field. Benge's first at-bat on Opening Day will be against 2025 National League Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes.

Benge finished spring training with a .366 batting average, a .435 on-base percentage, a .439 slugging percentage, a .874 OPS and a team-high 15 hits in 14 games. The Mets selected Benge 19th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Oklahoma State University, making his Opening Day debut 620 days after he was selected.

"It's going to be surreal. I'm going to try my best to take it in, but stay calm and play my game," Benge said.

Benge is the Mets' No. 2 prospect and MLB's No. 16 prospect according to MLB.com. He is not on the New York Mets' 40-man roster. At the start of spring training, the Mets gave Benge an opportunity to compete for the starting right fielder position.

"We didn't want to get ahead of ourselves here, but just how he carried himself throughout camp. You could tell by the way that there's something special about this guy. And he earned it," Mendoza said.

"I am happy that I carried myself in a really good way. I showed everyone what kind of person I am and I feel like that is what spoke the loudest for me," Benge said.

Benge will become only the 11th player to debut for the Mets on Opening Day this century and the fourth to start an Opening Day game, the last being Pete Alonso. Benge went 1-for-3 in a spring training game against the Miami Marlins, a 4-3 loss at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

"I'll be patient. I have waited this long, I will wait a little longer," Benge said.

Mike Tauchman tore the meniscus in his left knee and will require surgery. Gilbert Gomez managed Benge at High-A Brooklyn as recently as June 21 and is now the Mets' outfield coach.