WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – What the Mets love about Carson Benge — his ability to play the ball, solid defense in multiple outfields, and complete athleticism — was on display again Saturday, as the youngster made his second start of the spring in center field and added a hard-hit, one-pitch single in an 8-2 loss to the Astros at the Palm Beach Ballpark.
He is looking to win a spot on the Opening Day roster and before the game, manager Carlos Mendoza said he expects to have to make “tough decisions because we have a lot of guys who are playing well and are healthy.”
Benge did his best to open a case for himself.
“He continues to go out there, give good at-bats, play good defense, run the bases, [hit] left to left,” Mendoza said. “He did what he had to do in the end.”
His performance impressed the manager.
“Shut up,” Mendoza said. “He’s a baseball guy. He’s not too high or too low. I don’t think the time will be too big for him, which is good for him. [him]. He goes about his business, plays baseball, goes home, comes back the next day [and] you do it again. That’s the biggest thing I learned.”
The Mets depth took a hit when Justin Hagenman was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a broken rib on Saturday.
The right-hander suffered the injury while exiting the recent Grapefruit League game on March 5, though Mendoza said the team is not sure exactly how it happened.
“After his last outing, he came and complained of pain in that area,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza called it “a very serious injury. He’s going to be out for a while. I don’t know the timetable, but he’s going to miss some time.”
Hagenman, 29, appeared in nine games for the Mets last year and made one start.
With the six-man rotation healthy, Tobias Myers stretching, and prospects Jonah Tong and Christian Scott waiting in the minors, Mendoza remains comfortable with the team’s depth, though he noted the Mets will miss Hagenman’s versatility.
“You can never listen to enough voices,” said the manager.” “It’s sad to lose a guy like him [Hagenman] who not only start, but pitch multiple innings out of the pen. … We will miss him.”
Francisco Lindor took live batting practice for the second straight day Saturday, Mendoza said, as the shortstop returns from left hamate surgery last month.
Everything went according to plan for Lindor to be able to return on Opening Day, although baseball president David Stearns said he could play in Grapefruit League games to be cleared.
Asked if Lindor could make the move in the coming days, Mendoza said, “We’ll see.”
“He continues to feel good,” said the manager.
Richard Lovelady, a lefty who spent the season bouncing between the Mets and Nationals, is back with the Mets, who claimed he was off waivers Saturday.
The 30-year-old made 10 appearances in the majors last season, split with the Mets and Blue Jays.
