Mets draft Oklahoma State outfielder/pitcher Carson Benge in first round

Carson Benge stood out with a bat in the lefty box and with a ball in his right hand on the mound for Oklahoma State.

Now he’s bringing his skills to the Mets’ organization.

The Mets selected the outfielder/pitcher in the first round of the MLB Draft on Sunday night, taking him with the 19th pick. They love his ability as a position player. But will they decide to let the 6-1 Oklahoma native continue to be a two-way player?

Benge wants a chance to pitch, too.

“For me, I would at least like a shot to be able to do both, just because why not? It’s there,” he said during a Zoom news conference. “If one or the other suffers or my body can’t handle it, then I’ll know it’s time to set down one or the other.”

Asked if the Mets have given him an indication that they will let him attempt to be a two-way player, Benge said: “I’m pretty sure, really, that they’ve been pretty open to it. A lot of teams have been. But I guess we’ll still have to see.”

Kris Gross, the Mets’ new vice president of amateur scouting, was noncommittal during his time with the media in the Zoom room.

“A two-way talent that’s very good both ways,” Gross said. “So it’s something we’ll discuss with him.”

Gross raved about Benge’s ability as a position player.

“We think he can be a five-tool-type centerfielder long-term,” he said.

Benge batted .335 with 18 homers, 64 RBIs and an 1.109 OPS in 61 games this past season as a redshirt sophomore. He also pitched in 18 games, including four starts, and went 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA, a 1.00 WHIP and 44 strikeouts in 37 innings.

“I really like this kid,” former Colorado Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said in his role as an analyst on the MLB Network telecast of the draft. “I mean, he’s got to learn to hit the ball inside a little bit better. I think that’ll happen as he matures. He really uses the opposite field incredibly well. He’s got a great feel to hit. He’s very, very athletic, plays rightfield exceptionally well.

“Hey, listen, on the bump, too, it’s like low-to-mid 90s with a hammer. So it’s a feel to pitch, too.

“I think this is a college player that you almost have to look in some ways as a high school player. I still feel he has that kind of ceiling to develop. I love this pick for the Mets.”

One of Benge’s close friends is his former OSU roommate, Nolan McLean, who was taken as a two-way player in the third round by the Mets last season. They still regularly play video games.

McLean is at Double-A Binghamton these days, but his two-way days appear over.

“He recently told me he’s set down the bat,” Benge said.

McLean said it might be permanent. “The main thing was just my workload and how my body was feeling,” he said.

If it’s one or the other, Benge prefers hitting, but McLean likes what Benge brings in all aspects of the game.

“I don’t think there’s anything that Carson can’t do on the baseball field,” McLean said. “He can run. He can throw. He can really, really hit.”

Benge is a player who certainly brings belief to the batter’s box.

“I don’t think there’s a lot of stuff I can’t do with a bat in my hands,” he said. “I like to stay confident because without confidence, you’re not going to be good.”

The Mets went for pitching in the second round, taking Duke lefty Jonathan Santucci with the 46th overall pick.