NEW YORK — Run on the Mets’ rookies at your own risk.
MLB teams keep learning that the hard way, with the San Diego Padres becoming the latest victims.
Carson Benge delivered two more outfield assists and A.J. Ewing added another — all at home plate — in the Mets’ 2-1 win over the Padres at Citi Field on Monday night.
It started with the 23-year-old Benge, who, on back-to-back plays in the top of the first, threw out Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado with rocket throws from right field.
The first occurred as Cronenworth tried to score on a Ty France single with one out. Benge unleashed a 99.9-mph laser, easily beating Cronenworth, who attempted to hurdle catcher Francisco Alvarez to no avail.
The next throw was even more impressive.
After Jackson Merrill lined a two-out single to right, Benge collected the ball and uncorked a 103.9-mph rope, resulting in another easy tag-out for Alvarez.
Benge’s 103.9-mph throw was the fastest outfield assist in the majors this season and the third-fastest on record since at least 2015, according to MLB. Only the Yankees’ Aaron Hicks (105.5 mph in April 2016) and Milwaukee’s Brett Phillips (104.0 mph in Sept. 2017) recorded faster outfield assists in that timeframe.
Despite recording four consecutive singles against Mets starter Nolan McLean in the first inning, the Padres did not score thanks to Benge’s right-armed wizardry.
The Padres threatened again in the second inning, loading the bases with no outs, but they managed only one run due in large part to the 22-year-old Ewing’s right arm.
With two outs, Cronenworth slapped a single to left field, and Xander Bogaerts tried to score from second. But Ewing scooped up the ball and hurled an accurate throw home, beating Bogaerts as he slid headfirst.
The defensive highlights by Benge and Ewing limited the Padres to just one run through two innings, despite them totaling five hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch against McLean in that stretch.
At one point, the Padres put seven consecutive men on base without scoring. They made four outs at home plate within the first two innings, with the other coming on a bases-loaded comebacker to McLean for the first out of the second.
McLean settled in from there, tossing four more scoreless innings. All told, the right-hander allowed one run in six innings on six hits, four walks and three strikeouts. He improved to 9-8 with a 3.34 ERA.
Benge, who made his MLB debut on Opening Day, now boasts nine outfield assists — including at least one in each of the last three games — in 120 games.
This is the second time Benge has recorded multiple outfield assists in the same game, with the first instance coming on July 24 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s the first time Benge has accounted for multiple outs at home plate in one game.
“He’s been outstanding. And we expected him to be outstanding,” president of baseball operations David Stearns said before Monday’s game. “This is a very gifted player on both sides of the ball, and we expected really, really good defense. And we have gotten really, really good defense.”
Benge was a two-way player at Oklahoma State, where he was teammates with McLean, who also pitched and hit in college.
After being drafted by the Mets in the first round in 2024, Benge gave up pitching to focus on his development as a position player.
But, clearly, his arm remains an asset. Five of his outfield assists have come on throws of at least 98 mph, per MLB.
“It’s one of my favorite things to do on a field, throw someone out — especially at home. That makes it even better,” Benge said last month.
“My arm was always playing, but getting that transfer time down … was a big part of getting me better out there.”
Ewing, who made his MLB debut on May 12, has recorded five outfield assists in 85 big-league games.
Daniel Duarte pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save, filling the closer role after Kodai Senga appeared in two of the previous three games. The Mets (57-69) have won four games in a row and 10 of their last 13.
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