Who doesn’t love two way players?

In a little over a week, the 2024 MLB draft is set to take place, with the Blue Jays picking 20th-overall for the second consecutive season. They’ll also pick again on the first day, as they have the 59th-overall pick. Rounding out the top five rounds, they have picked 95, 125, 136, and 158.
Overall, the Blue Jays have a signing bonus pool of $8,987,000 which is used to pick players from the first 10 rounds, or with their first 11 picks. Players selected in rounds 11-20 can sign up to $150,000 before counting towards the pool.
In this article, we’ll take a look at one of the most intriguing players in the draft, Carson Benge.
<h2>Carson Benge’s bio</h2>
Carson Benge is a 6’1”, 184 lbs outfielder/relief pitcher who is a junior at Oklahoma State University. He ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 18th-best prospect, right in range for the Blue Jays to select him.
The Blue Jays have one of Benge’s former teammates in the organization, as they selected Juaron Watts-Brown from Oklahoma State in the third-round of last season’s draft. The season prior, they signed Kale Davis, but he didn’t sign. Prior to that, the last time they drafted a player from the school was all the way back in 2001 when they selected Darren Heal in the 22nd-round.
<h2>Carson Benge’s stats</h2>
Missing the 2022 season with Tommy John surgery, Benge started his collegiate career in 2023, where he slashed .345/.468/.538 with seven homers in 248 plate appearances. To go along with that, he pitched 35 innings, starting in all 10 games, and posting a 6.69 ERA, along with a 21 K% and a 14.4 BB%.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
Carson Benge Shut the Door! OSU has had some heart breaks this week in the late innings, that much is for sure, but Carson Benge made today uneventful &amp; that&#39;s a GREAT thing. Not the weekend we all hoped, but super proud of the boys for fighting back and gettin&#39; this one today.… <a href="https://t.co/U5Scv1nxiH">pic.twitter.com/U5Scv1nxiH</a>
&mdash; OState Daily (@Ostate_Daily) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ostate_Daily/status/1782186410851627166?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
His 2024 season went much better, slashing .335/.444/.665 with a career-best 18 homers in 304 plate appearances, along with a 16.8 K% and a 16.1 BB%. Benge mainly pitched out of the bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA with a 28.2 K% and a 7 BB% in 37 innings pitched.
<h2>Carson Benge’s tools</h2>
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report notes that he’s a first-round pick with the bat and a third-round pick as a pitcher, so there’s a chance he could develop as a two-way player after he’s selected.
As a hitter, he is a good hitter who can make contact while also ripping the ball with high exit velocities. Benge has a good eye at the plate, and has solid bat speed mixed with a good hit tool.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/Carsonbenge3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Carsonbenge3</a> doing <a href="https://twitter.com/Carsonbenge3?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Carsonbenge3</a> things<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoPokes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoPokes</a> <a href="https://t.co/xoHlJor9Sc">pic.twitter.com/xoHlJor9Sc</a>
&mdash; OSU Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) <a href="https://twitter.com/OSUBaseball/status/1777049652132798671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
He’s a quick runner and has a plus arm, as one could imagine. Benge has hit 96 mph with the fastball and features a slider and a changeup with average control, especially out of the bullpen. It’s worth noting that he prefers to hit, so his pitching career may be finished.
<h2>Carson Benge’s grades</h2>
As always, we’ll look at his grades according to MLB Pipeline.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Grade</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hit</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Power</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Run</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arm</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Field</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Overall</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Unfortunately, the site doesn’t have his pitching grades, but there’s a strong likelihood that he will become a full-time outfielder, rather than a two-way player like he was in college.
<h2>Will the Blue Jays select Carson Benge</h2>
The Blue Jays’ outfield depth in the organization has improved in recent seasons, but aside from Alan Roden, they don’t have an outfielder in the upper-minors with high potential.
Benge would change that though. The hit tool is above average, and he can also hit for power. The 21-year-old has a strong arm and pairs that with good fielding ability and average speed. He’s not quite a five-tool player, but all his tools are average or better, which could make him the best player available when the Blue Jays pick 20th.
<hr />
As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

Who doesn’t love two way players?



In a little over a week, the 2024 MLB draft is set to take place, with the Blue Jays picking 20th-overall for the second consecutive season. They’ll also pick again on the first day, as they have the 59th-overall pick. Rounding out the top five rounds, they have picked 95, 125, 136, and 158.

Overall, the Blue Jays have a signing bonus pool of $8,987,000 which is used to pick players from the first 10 rounds, or with their first 11 picks. Players selected in rounds 11-20 can sign up to $150,000 before counting towards the pool.

In this article, we’ll take a look at one of the most intriguing players in the draft, Carson Benge.
<h2>Carson Benge’s bio</h2>
Carson Benge is a 6’1”, 184 lbs outfielder/relief pitcher who is a junior at Oklahoma State University. He ranks as MLB Pipeline’s 18th-best prospect, right in range for the Blue Jays to select him.

The Blue Jays have one of Benge’s former teammates in the organization, as they selected Juaron Watts-Brown from Oklahoma State in the third-round of last season’s draft. The season prior, they signed Kale Davis, but he didn’t sign. Prior to that, the last time they drafted a player from the school was all the way back in 2001 when they selected Darren Heal in the 22nd-round.
<h2>Carson Benge’s stats</h2>
Missing the 2022 season with Tommy John surgery, Benge started his collegiate career in 2023, where he slashed .345/.468/.538 with seven homers in 248 plate appearances. To go along with that, he pitched 35 innings, starting in all 10 games, and posting a 6.69 ERA, along with a 21 K% and a 14.4 BB%.

https://twitter.com/Ostate_Daily/status/1782186410851627166

His 2024 season went much better, slashing .335/.444/.665 with a career-best 18 homers in 304 plate appearances, along with a 16.8 K% and a 16.1 BB%. Benge mainly pitched out of the bullpen, posting a 3.16 ERA with a 28.2 K% and a 7 BB% in 37 innings pitched.
<h2>Carson Benge’s tools</h2>
MLB Pipeline’s scouting report notes that he’s a first-round pick with the bat and a third-round pick as a pitcher, so there’s a chance he could develop as a two-way player after he’s selected.

As a hitter, he is a good hitter who can make contact while also ripping the ball with high exit velocities. Benge has a good eye at the plate, and has solid bat speed mixed with a good hit tool.

https://twitter.com/OSUBaseball/status/1777049652132798671

He’s a quick runner and has a plus arm, as one could imagine. Benge has hit 96 mph with the fastball and features a slider and a changeup with average control, especially out of the bullpen. It’s worth noting that he prefers to hit, so his pitching career may be finished.
<h2>Carson Benge’s grades</h2>
As always, we’ll look at his grades according to MLB Pipeline.
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Grade</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Hit</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Power</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Run</td>
<td>50</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Arm</td>
<td>60</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Field</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Overall</td>
<td>55</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
Unfortunately, the site doesn’t have his pitching grades, but there’s a strong likelihood that he will become a full-time outfielder, rather than a two-way player like he was in college.
<h2>Will the Blue Jays select Carson Benge</h2>
The Blue Jays’ outfield depth in the organization has improved in recent seasons, but aside from Alan Roden, they don’t have an outfielder in the upper-minors with high potential.

Benge would change that though. The hit tool is above average, and he can also hit for power. The 21-year-old has a strong arm and pairs that with good fielding ability and average speed. He’s not quite a five-tool player, but all his tools are average or better, which could make him the best player available when the Blue Jays pick 20th.

<hr />

As always, you can follow me on Twitter @Ryley_L_D.

With the 20th overall pick, the Blue Jays could select… Carson Benge?

Toronto Blue Jays right fielder George Springer (4) reacts after lining out during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park.

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