00:00Binge-worthy. Scouts say prospect will be starved, but question is, how fast?
00:05So let's binge-watch and talk all things Carson Binge with Michael Barron, executive editor of Just Mets.
00:11Mike, thanks for hopping on with this, my man.
00:13All eyes are on the Mets' top prospect, Carson Binge.
00:17He's David Stern's first-ever draft pick as the Mets' president of baseball operations back in 2024.
00:24But he only has 56 games played above single-A ball.
00:28So there's one roster spot open for another outfielder, and he's going to have to compete for that.
00:33So make a case on why Carson Binge will be on the roster on opening day.
00:41Well, I think there are two things.
00:43One, he fits the criteria for the way David Stern wants to build it, i.e. pave a way for
00:51his young prospects to have a chance in the major leagues.
00:55That's number one.
00:56Number two, obviously, he's a top one-two prospect in the system at this point.
01:01He's a left-handed bat and would help create a little bit more balance in the lineup for them.
01:06But also, when you look at his game and his player profile, he makes a lot of contact, doesn't strike
01:14out a lot.
01:15He has a high, hard hit rate in the minors.
01:19I think they'd like to see his chase rate improve a little bit, but he also doesn't strike out a
01:25lot.
01:25So I think when you put all three of those things together, he fits what the Mets are looking for
01:31in the outfield perfectly.
01:34And, of course, you know, you want good stories and you want your prospects to make the team.
01:39So I think those are the three things that will help make a case for him.
01:44But, like you said, you know, he lacks experience and he struggled at AAA in the small sample late last
01:50year.
01:51So, you know, I think they want to see good at-bats from him this spring.
01:56And, you know, probably, I don't want to say he's immature, he's not immature, but they want to see a
02:00mature player who's ready for the major leagues, you know, coming towards the end of camp.
02:04Yeah, if he makes this roster as well, it makes the Mets look good because we talked about how good
02:08their farm system is.
02:11So, I mean, that would be absolutely, it's a win-win situation for them.
02:15You kind of alluded to it a little bit already when it comes to the inexperience.
02:18So continue to make that case on why he won't make opening day roster.
02:23You think he's got some flaws that could be exposed in the majors this spring training?
02:29I actually don't.
02:30I mean, I think it's going to depend on how he handles right field defensively in Grapefruit League games when
02:36they start.
02:37I think that could be, you know, one challenge for him.
02:41I think the other could be how other players, such as Brett Beatty, respond to, you know, work in the
02:49outfield and, you know, how he hits.
02:51I mean, Beatty is always, you know, always has great camps.
02:54So, you know, perhaps that will, that trend will continue.
02:58But, you know, he has to perform too.
03:00And if he doesn't, that will only improve the chances for Carson Bench to make the team.
03:04I don't see Carson Bench making this team, you know, as a part-time player or a platoon or anything.
03:10Because I think, you know, for top prospects especially, they have to play.
03:14And if he's not going to play in the majors, you know, because they think Beatty's a better fit.
03:18You know, they want to do something with Tyrone Taylor and a platoon with him.
03:22Then I think that'll, that'll get, that'll, that'll result in Carson Bench ending up in the minors to start the
03:28year.
03:29But I do, you know, they're, I think the chances are pretty good that he's on this roster.
03:34Especially with the designated hitter.
03:36They can always have Brett Beatty platoon with Mark Vientos, you know, in a designated hitter role.
03:42So there are, there are multiple paths for Bench to make this team.
03:46So what do you think the Mets starting outfield is going to look like on opening day?
03:50And how confident are you that that is a championship-like outfield?
03:56That's a good question.
03:57I think, you know, I don't want to say, well, everybody has to stay healthy.
04:01I mean, of course, everybody has to stay healthy.
04:02But assuming everybody stays healthy, I do see Bench starting for this team on opening day.
04:09Along with Luis Robert Jr. and Juan Soto, you know, going around right to left.
04:14So, again, like people have to stay healthy, of course.
04:17But I see, I see Beatty more in that utility role that they spoke to him about earlier in the
04:25offseason when they got Bichette.
04:26You know, he'll be, I think he's going to moonlight at third.
04:29He's going to moonlight, you know, perhaps in both corner outfield spots.
04:33I could even see him getting opportunities at first, you know, over the course of the year.
04:37Because, you know, they look, they're looking at him in that Jeff McNeil type role where they can just plug
04:43him in anywhere and not worry about him.
04:45I don't think they want to move Bench around left to between the corner outfield spots.
04:50I think they'd rather just have him start to feel comfortable in one position.
04:55So, I think Bench will fit in, at least project at this point on February 13th as the opening day
05:01right fielder.
05:02But, you know, we'll see.
05:03I mean, again, it has, it's going to have a lot to do with how he performs, how Beatty performs,
05:07and so on and so forth.
05:08All right, it's definitely a story that we're going to be keeping our eye on throughout the course of spring
05:12training.
05:13Mike, thanks for hopping on with this, man.
05:15We'll definitely be coming back to you pretty soon.
05:18Of course, anytime.
05:19Thanks for having me.
05:25We'll see you next time.
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