Carson Benge Is Exploding — And WaiverScout Called It First

Carson Benge just went 5-for-5 with a home run, and his 7-day wOBA sits at .575. This is not a blip. This is the breakout WaiverScout has been tracking since late April, and the data is now screaming.

If you're still watching from the sideline at 42% roster ownership, the window is closing fast. Benge has surged +13% in the last week alone, and the velocity is only accelerating. We classified him as an Add Now on May 31 at 28% ownership. Before that, we flagged him as an Add Now on May 18 at 23%. We first put him on the Watch list on April 28 at just 10%. The signal has only strengthened at every checkpoint. The managers who listened early are already reaping the rewards.

The Rolling Windows Tell the Story

Look at the progression across Benge's rolling splits and tell me this isn't real:

  • 30-day: .327 AVG, 4 HR, 4 SB, .371 wOBA, 49.9% hard-hit rate, 90.9 mph exit velocity
  • 14-day: .333 AVG, 4 HR, 1 SB, .441 wOBA, 71.7% hard-hit rate, 97.3 mph exit velocity
  • 7-day: .429 AVG, 3 HR, 1 SB, .575 wOBA, 71.1% hard-hit rate, 98.6 mph exit velocity

That exit velocity jump — from 90.9 mph over 30 days to 98.6 mph over the last week — is staggering. This isn't a guy getting lucky on flares and bloopers. He's squaring the ball up with authority, and the results are following.

The Skills Are Legitimate

A .575 wOBA over a week can be noise. But when it's paired with a 71.1% hard-hit rate and 98.6 mph average exit velocity, you're looking at elite-level contact quality. Over 48 plate appearances across his last 14 days, Benge is maintaining a 71.7% hard-hit rate. That's not a fluke — that's a mechanical adjustment that's producing sustained damage.

His strikeout rate has held relatively steady, sitting at 22.7% over the last 7 days and 20.2% over 30 days. He's not selling out for power at the expense of contact. The walk rate is modest at 4.5% in the short window, but the quality of contact more than compensates. When you're hitting the ball this hard this often, you don't need to work deep counts.

Playing Time Is Locked In

Benge logged 22 plate appearances over the last 7 days, confirming consistent everyday playing time in the Mets outfield. For a 2024 first-round pick making his MLB debut this season, the leash is long and the opportunity is secure. The broader fantasy community is catching on — Yahoo Fantasy recently highlighted him as a waiver target, and Pitcher List has profiled his early-season trajectory. The consensus is aligning with what WaiverScout identified weeks ago.

In deeper leagues, you may be weighing him against outfielders like Pete Crow-Armstrong or Brandon Marsh. Over the last two weeks, Benge's .441 wOBA and 97.3 mph exit velocity make that comparison favorable, especially with the power-speed combo of 4 HR and 4 SB over 30 days.

Verdict: Add Now

The numbers back it up. Carson Benge is producing elite contact quality, hitting for power and speed, and playing every day for a competitive Mets lineup. At 42% rostered, he's still available in the majority of leagues, but that number is moving fast. WaiverScout flagged this signal when he was at 10% ownership. Don't be the manager who waits until 80%. Add him now.