New York Mets right fielder Carson Benge finished as runner-up in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, but columnist Andrew Tredinnick argues the 2026 season showed Benge deserved the top honor over winner Sal Stewart of the Cincinnati Reds.
Voting breakdown
Stewart captured the award with 20 of 30 first-place votes after leading all NL rookies with 32 home runs and 112 RBI, along with a .787 OPS, 87 runs, 25 doubles and 15 stolen bases. Benge received seven first-place votes, three second-place votes and 12 third-place votes. St. Louis Cardinals second baseman JJ Wetherholt finished third.
Benge's all-around production
Despite a slow start in April (.189 average, .525 OPS), Benge slashed .299/.363/.457 over the final five months. He led all NL rookies with 168 hits, ranked second in batting average (.282) and home runs (20), and third in RBI (65) and stolen bases (22). Benge was the only NL rookie to finish in the top three in each of those key offensive categories, and his 118 OPS+ surpassed both Stewart and Wetherholt.
Defensive excellence
Benge was one of three finalists for the NL Gold Glove Award in right field. He recorded 10 outfield assists, the third-most among NL outfielders, and posted seven defensive runs saved. His arm value rated as the best in baseball, with the fifth-highest arm strength in the majors.
Comparison with other candidates
Stewart's offensive numbers were elite, but he posted a -2 outs above average and a negative first-base receiving score. Wetherholt excelled defensively with a +25 outs above average, second only to Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, but his .242/.339/.365 slash line was modest. Benge combined high-level offense with elite outfield defense, making him the most complete rookie in the league according to Tredinnick.
Mets' rookie depth
New York also saw right-hander Nolan McLean finish fourth in the voting and A.J. Ewing receive a fifth-place vote, signaling a promising young core for the franchise.
