The Mets’ season has been miserable, but it has not been wasted.
Even amid the frustration and losses, there have been emergences like Carson Benge, whose rookie campaign has been excellent and, at least in the franchise record books, is now historic.
The young outfielder collected three more hits (including a home run) in Saturday’s 10-3 victory over the Phillies at Citi Field, and he tipped his helmet to the 37,468 on hand after his third, which gave him the all-time record for hits by a Mets rookie.
The Mets recently said goodbye, again, to Pete Alonso, and now can say goodbye to his then-rookie record of 155 hits in 2019. Benge tallied his 156th in his 149th game and has another week to add to his total.
“To see all the guys who have come through here, all the greats … being able to hold that [record] is pretty special,” said Benge, who did not set the record dramatically but rather fittingly.
In the second inning, Benge drilled a home run off righty Andrew Painter, his 19th of the year, to tie Ike Davis (2010) and Ron Swoboda (1965) for fourth most by a Mets rookie.
In the seventh, Benge poked a single into right-center against lefty José Alvarado to tie Alonso.
And in the eighth, against righty Orion Kerkering, Benge turned a check swing into a swinging bunt that hugged the third base line, a big grin on his face as he reached first base for the record.
This season, Benge — with his aptitude, a swing that has few holes, good speed and a cannon of an arm — has done some of everything to help the Mets.
“There’s just no clean way to get him out,” interim manager Andy Green said of Benge, who has proven himself against major league pitching of all kinds.
“When he sees one pitch in an at-bat,” said Christian Scott, who struck out seven and was charged with three runs in 4 ²/₃ innings, “he kind of learns from it.”
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Benge has learned plenty this season, which began with promise — having won a job in camp — and transitioned to disappointment. He was hitting .189 with a .525 OPS at the end of April.
Nearing the end of September, he is hitting .276 with a .759 OPS. The rookie struggled immediately and then not again, launching himself into the Mets record books and at least the NL Rookie of the Year conversation.
“It just proves I’m tough,” Benge said of his getting past his early struggles. “I won’t let things get me down too much.”
Further proof: He will not take jabs about the record-setting hit, which officially traveled 1 foot in the air.
His teammates have not teased him about it because “they don’t have the record,” Benge said with a laugh.
