(2026) Carson Benge Becomes Second Met Rookie to HR In Opening Day Debut Highlighting Mets Win

 Thursday, March 26th 2026: After a disappointing 2025 & upsetting off season that saw centerfieldmaz two favorite Mets go in Pete Alonso & Brandon Nimmo it was time for Opening Day. Although still not over the loss of those two popular Mets, as well as the departures of Jeff McNeil & Edwin Diaz, I'm trying to get on board. 

Looks as though many fans may feel the same way as there were plenty of empty seats in that upper deck.

The GM let each of those players go despite all having led the league in at least one category as well as the franchise's all time HR leader while sticking with an over rated short stop who once gave the fans a thumbs down & who hasn't yet been atop the league in any category.

These 2026 Mets opened up with many new faces, some older veterans, some Milwaukee Brewer rejects, a top free agent & a highly touted rookie in Carson Benge who was in college just two years ago. 

Carson Benge Trivia: Benge is the Mets #2 prospect, #16 overall in MLB, batted .366 in Spring Training but did not hit a HR in those 14 games. He still earned himself a trip north & being name the Mets main right fielder.

Other new Mets in the line up are Bo Bichette (third base), Jorge Polanco (first base), Luis Robert Jr. (centerfield) Marcus Semien (second base) & Freddy Peralta (pitcher). A total of eight new Mets players would participate in this home opener.

Davey Johnson Honored: The Mets will wear an arm patch honoring the late Davey Johnson, who passed in the off season. On the 40th Anniversary of the 1986 Mets World Championship season, Davey is the last Mets manager to win a World Series.

In the top of the 1st, Freddy Peralta surrendered his first HR of the year, a two run shot to Brandon Lowe who would hit another HR off Peralta in the 3rd inning. 

Brandon Lowe Trivia: Lowe had hit 31 HRs last season with Tampa. In his career he has three straight 20 plus HR seasons & two 30 plus HR seasons.

Five Run 1st: In the home 1st inning, Francisco Lindor drew a walk & Juan Soto singled getting Lindor to Third. New Met Bo Bichette drove in the clubs first run of the year with a sac fly to right scoring Lindor. After an infield hit from Jorge Polanco & a walk to Luis Robert Jr. both new additions as well, the bases were loaded. 

Brett Baty now in his fourth season with the Mets, hit a shot to center that went for a bases
clearing three run triple thanks to the first outfield miscue by Oneil Cruz giving the Mets a 3-2 lead.

The Mets knocked the reigning Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes out in the 1st inning.

MLB Umpire Trivia: In the top of the 3rd inning, Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez used the new Automated Ball Strike challenge on a Freddy Peralta pitch to Onell Cruz. The call was overturned to a strike becoming the first ABS ruling in MLB history.

In the home 4th, Mason Montgomery walked the first two batters he faced in Francisco Lindor & Juan Soto. Later Luis Robert Jr's single scored Lindor with the Mets fourth run.

In the top of the 5th, the Pirates tacked on another run as Nick Gonzales singled & Henry Davis brought him in with a double. In his Mets debut Freddy Peralta gave up four runs on six hits striking out seven without walking anyone. He earned the win benefiting from the eleven run support.

In the bottom of the 5th Carson Benge reached for the first time  in his career, drawing a walk.

After a pitching change as Isaac Mattson came in, Francisco Alvarez collected one of his two hits on the day with a single. Francisco Lindor then drew his third walk of the day loading the bases. Juan Soto singled to left field driving in his first run of the year as Carson Benge scored his first career run making it 7-4 Mets.

The Pirates helped out the Mets again, as Mattson walked Jorge Polanco, the eighth Mets free pass given on the day, the Bucs would walk nine. Then a botched little roller on the first base side of the pitcher led to Luis Robert. Jr beating out the play & Francisco Lindor scoring his third run of the day, giving the Mets a 9-4 lead.

Carson Benge Mets Record HR: In the bottom of the 6th, with out, rookie Carson Benge hit his first career HR to right center field. Benge became just the second Mets player in franchise history (Kaz Matsui 2004) to hit a HR in their rookie debut on Opening Day. He also became the first Mets player since pitcher, Steven Matz (2015) to reach base safely in their first career game.

As Benge was rounding the bases he said he doesn't remember anything, he just "blacked out". After his teammates congratulated him, when in the dugout they were all looking at him as the fans kept cheering & encouraging him on. He then came out for a Citi Field curtain call.

Francisco Alvarez followed going back-to-back with a tremendous HR into the left field stands giving the Mets an 11-5 lead.

Tobias Myers, another one of the former Milwaukee Brewers on the Mets team, gave them three innings of relief giving up a run, a HR to Ryan O'Hearn. In the 9th, Luis Garcia came on gave up two runs but finished off the 11-7 opening day win.

Mets Trivia: The Mets are the winningest team on Opening Day in MLB history with a 42-23 record. 

Quotes- Carson Benge: "Everything I imagined & more, great surroundings, all the guys, there so welcoming, I had a blast."