Mets' Carson Benge can join a small group with Opening Day appearance
Kaz Matsui of the Mets is introduced to the fans prior to Atlanta's home opener at Turner Field on April 6, 2004. Credit: Getty Images/Erik S. Lesser
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Carson Benge’s pursuit of a spot on the Mets’ Opening Day roster isn’t dissimilar from what other prospects have done in baseball history.
But if Benge starts the Mets’ opener against Pittsburgh March 26, it will be a rarity in recent franchise history.
Pete Alonso in 2019 was the last Mets rookie to debut with an Opening Day start, and only three position players this century have made their MLB debuts as an Opening Day starter for the Mets. Since 2000, only 10 players have made their MLB debut for the Mets on Opening Day.
What will it mean, big picture, if Benge starts on Opening Day? Not too much. Other than the obvious personal milestone, it isn’t necessarily a sign of what’s to come organizationally. Service time and whether a prospect truly is ready can factor into these decisions. Homegrown greats like Jose Reyes and David Wright didn’t debut until June and July, respectively. Former mainstays like Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil didn’t debut until the summer, either.
Here are the Mets who have made MLB debuts for the club on Opening Day this century.
Hayden Senger, 2025
In a 3-1 loss at Houston last March 27, Senger entered at catcher in the eighth inning. With the Mets trailing 3-0 in the ninth, he had his first career at-bat with the bases loaded and no one out; he struck out swinging against Josh Hader. Senger — currently on the Mets’ 40-man roster — played 33 games last year, slashing .181/.221/.194 with a double and four RBIs.
Andres Gimenez, 2020
COVID delayed Opening Day until July 24, and no fans were at Citi Field when Gimenez replaced Robinson Cano at second base in the eighth inning of a 1-0 win over Atlanta. Gimenez did not record a plate appearance but had two infield assists. He slashed .263/.333/.398, finishing seventh in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He was traded to Cleveland in the package that brought Francisco Lindor to Flushing in January 2021. Gimenez currently plays for the Blue Jays.
Pete Alonso, 2019
Alonso batted second, started at first and went 1-for-4 in his MLB debut, a 2-0 win in Washington. He notched his first hit in the eighth, a two-out single. The rest is history. Alonso won NL Rookie of the Year, hitting an MLB rookie-record 53 homers. He played seven seasons for the Mets and is their all-time home run leader. He inked a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore last December.
Scott Rice, 2013
Rice struck out two in a perfect ninth inning in an 11-2 home win over the Padres. Rice’s story is inspirational, as he was an Orioles’ first-round pick in 1999 and spent 14 years in the minors before debuting at 31. Rice’s only two MLB seasons were with the Mets (2013-14). He went 5-7 with a 4.18 ERA in 64 2⁄3 innings.
Brad Emaus and Pedro Beato, 2011
Two Mets debuted in a 6-2 road loss to the Marlins. Emaus started at second base and batted seventh, going 0-for-2 with a walk. He went 6-for-37 in 14 games for the Mets and never played another MLB game. Beato tossed two scoreless innings in his debut. He went 2-1 with a 4.67 ERA in 67 games with the Mets (2011-12) and was traded to Boston in August 2012.
Joe Smith, 2007
In a 6-1 win in St. Louis, Smith entered with a runner on first and no one out in the eighth. He faced two batters, surrendering a single to David Eckstein and striking out Preston Wilson. He had a 3.51 ERA with the Mets from 2007-08, the first two of 15 MLB seasons, and was traded to Cleveland in December 2008 in a three-team deal that brought pitchers Sean Green and J.J. Putz and outfielder Jeremy Reed to Flushing. He finished his career with a 55-34 record, 30 saves and a 3.14 ERA.
Dae-Sung Koo, 2005
The Mets lost, 7-6, at Cincinnati, but Koo, who entered in the eighth with the Mets leading 6-4, struck out two in a perfect inning and was credited with a hold. He debuted at 35 and played only one MLB season, posting a 3.91 ERA in 33 games with the Mets, before returning to the KBO.
Kaz Matsui, 2004
Matsui — who batted leadoff and played shortstop in a 7-2 win at Atlanta — became the first rookie to hit a homer on the first pitch of the first at-bat on Opening Day (he would homer again in his first at-bat the following Opening Day as well). He went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and two walks (one intentional) in his debut. Matsui, whose signing led to the Mets moving Jose Reyes to second base for a short time, finished sixth in NL Rookie of the Year voting. He batted .256/.308/.363 for the Mets (2004-06) before being traded to Colorado in June 2006.
Tsuyoshi Shinjo, 2001
Shinjo, known for his brightly-colored arm bands, pinch-ran for Benny Agbayani in the eighth inning of a 6-4, 10-inning win in Atlanta. He went 1-for-1 with two runs. He singled in the 10th and scored on Robin Ventura’s go-ahead homer. Shinjo played three MLB seasons, two with the Mets (2001, 2003) and one with the Giants (2002) and had a career .245/.299/.370 slash line.
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
