Benge, Santucci

Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images

July 15, 2024

The picks are in! With the 19th pick, the New York Mets selected outfielder and right-handed pitcher Carson Benge from Oklahoma State University. With the 46th Pick, the Mets selected left-handed pitcher Jonathan Santucci from Duke University.

Benge Has Two-ways to go

During his last season at OSU, Benge hit .355 with 44 extra-base hits, including 18 home runs in 248 at-bats. “Few college hitters in this class can match Benge’s combination of bat-to-all skills and high exit velocities,” said his MLB prospects profile, “He controls the strike zone and uses the opposite field exceptionally well.” Benge had 29 multi-hit games in 61 position starts. He recorded seven RBI going 2-for-2 with a home run, two walks, three runs, and a sacrifice fly in an early March game against Central Michigan.

During his Freshman Season, he led the team in batting average and on-base percentage and had a team-high of 23 multi-hit games. He was a semi-finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award and was unanimously selected to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. He Made All-Big 12 First Team as a utility player, and the second team as an outfielder. After going 4-for-7 with two walks in the Stillwater Regional, he was named to the All-Tournament Team.

While on the mound, “He’s intriguing as a quick-armed right-hander with a fastball that reaches 96 mph, a solid slider, and the makings of an average changeup and control,” according to his Major League Baseball profile. This past season at OSU he started in four games at the end of the season and recorded a season-high of 10 strikeouts. In 37 innings pitched, he recorded 55 strikeouts and 11 walks.

Santucci Selected in Second Round

Santucci’s slider sits in the low 80’s, and his strikeout percentage with that pitch is 64% with a WHIFF percentage of 56%. His fastball speed ranged from 92-96 mph, “creating impressive carry and running action on a flat approach angel from a high arm slot,” according to his Major League Baseball profile. He throws his changeups less often and struggles a bit with landing it in the zone.

Last season at Duke, he struck out 90 batters in 58 innings and went 6–1 with a 3.31 ERA. He had back-to-back 10 strikeout games including a career-high of 14. He earned All-ACC First Team Starting Putcher and was on Perfect Game Second Team Midseason All-American.

During his freshman year, he earned the weekend starter role in the second half, went 2–3 with 58 strikeouts in 41 innings pitched, and allowed only seven extra-base hits. He led the team in ERA (4:17) BA (.211) and SO/9 (12.73) along with helping set the program record for SO/9 with 10.60 (top 15 in the country). In April of that same season, he led the ACC in ERA (0.57) and opponent BA (.118). This performance earned him an invitation to try out for the U.S. Collegiate National Team.

Injury Concerns

Benge was a redshirt in 2022 after he received Tommy John surgery. While he to have bounced back, it is something to watch out for if he will continue to be a two-way player. Benge has expressed that he might focus more on hitting. Santucci has had two injuries in college. During the 2022 season, he had elbow pain that needed surgery to remove bone chips. This past season he missed starts due to a rib injury. The two injuries in two seasons, one requiring surgery, could be a question of his durability. Only time will tell if he will be affected by these injuries.