Mets Rookie Benge Hits HR in Debut

0:00It's March 27th. Welcome to New York Met's News Today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. I'm Corey with the story. Carson Benj made his major league debut with the New York Met's on opening day against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 23-year-old outfielder went one for three with a home run, a walk, two run scored, and a stolen base in their 11-to-7 win. Adding to the weirdness, a dead pigeon thudded into Rifefield right next to him during the game. Earlier this week, Benj earned his spot on the roster straight out of spring training. He had over 20 friends and family cheering him on at City Field, his second time ever in New York City. Despite facing tough pitchers like National League, Sai Young winner Paul Schienes right away, he shook off the big league jitters. Fans and teammates raved about his cool head under pressure. Benge admitted to butterflies before his first at bat, where he struck out swinging. But he quickly settled in, fouling off pitches and competing hard, just as the Met's have praised his steady personality for handling a long season.

1:01In the sixth inning, Benj crushed his first career hit, a 485-foot home run on the very first pitch he saw. It landed in the bullpen, following a pattern for some Met's rookies, whose debut hits have also been homers. His performance showed why the team sees him as a clutch player. Benj stayed on phase by the bird incident, telling grounds crew to handle it while he kept focus. With that easy-going vibe, he set up for a strong start in the majors.