Carson Benge Is Hitting .412 Over the Last Week — And the Signal Has Been Building for a Month

Carson Benge is slashing at a .412 clip over his last 36 plate appearances with a .401 wOBA, and his strikeout rate has been cut nearly in half. At 23% rostered, this is the kind of window that closes fast. The data is clear: Benge is an Add Now.

WaiverScout Called This Early

We've been tracking Benge since late March. He was classified as "deprioritize" through early April while he found his footing as a rookie. On April 28 and again on May 6, our algorithm upgraded him to "watch" when his ownership sat at just 10-11%. Now, with the signal strengthening across every key metric, we're moving him to Add Now at 23% rostered. That's the trajectory you want to see — a player whose data profile has steadily improved over six weeks, not a one-week wonder.

The Rolling Windows Tell the Story

Look at the progression across Benge's three rolling windows:

  • 30-day: .322 AVG, .355 wOBA, 15.6% K%, 5.2% BB% (96 PA)
  • 14-day: .373 AVG, .375 wOBA, 14.8% K%, 3.7% BB% (54 PA)
  • 7-day: .412 AVG, .401 wOBA, 8.3% K%, 2.8% BB% (36 PA)

The batting average and wOBA are climbing in each window. More importantly, the strikeout rate has cratered — from 15.6% over 30 days down to 8.3% over the last week. That's an elite contact rate for any hitter, let alone a 23-year-old rookie. He's putting the bat on the ball and doing damage. His last five games include a 3-for-6 line with 3 RBI, a 3-for-4 game, and a 2-for-5 game. Only 2 strikeouts in 24 at-bats across that stretch.

Skills Check: What the Quality Metrics Say

Benge's hard-hit rate over the last seven days sits at 38.3% with an 87.6 mph average exit velocity. Those numbers alone won't blow you away — but zoom out and the 30-day hard-hit rate is 51.3% with a 91.5 mph EV. The 14-day sits at 45.2% and 89.6 mph. The slight dip in the most recent window likely reflects a shift toward more contact-oriented at-bats rather than a decline in quality. He's still barreling balls, he's just also putting weaker contact in play instead of striking out. That tradeoff is producing a .412 average. He also has 2 HR and 3 SB over the last 30 days, showing the power-speed mix that made him a ROY candidate entering 2026.

Opportunity Is Locked In

Benge logged 36 PA over the last seven days — that's consistent, everyday playing time in the Mets outfield. He made the Opening Day roster as a first-round pick from the 2024 draft and has clearly cemented his role. With 96 PA over the last 30 days, there's no platoon concern here. He's playing every day.

FantasyPros already highlighted his 3-for-4 game against the Yankees, and the broader fantasy community is starting to notice. But at 23% rostered, he's still available in the majority of leagues. That won't last if he keeps posting .400+ wOBA weeks.

The Verdict: Add Now

Carson Benge is an Add Now. The contact gains are real — a 54-PA sample at the 14-day level gives us solid confidence. The playing time is secure. The power-speed profile (2 HR, 3 SB in 30 days) provides multi-category upside. If you need outfield help, he should be prioritized over lower-ceiling options. In leagues where Riley Greene, Daulton Varsho, or Teoscar Hernández are unavailable, Benge is the next name on your list. Stop watching. Start adding.