Part 5/11:
While Benj’s AAA numbers reveal some struggles—likely exacerbated by injury and the adjustment curve—his talent and makeup suggest he could press for an opening day spot in spring training. Historical examples of players with limited AAA experience, such as Julio Rodriguez and Cam Smith, making successful leaps directly to MLB contribute to optimism. The key takeaway is that Benj’s skill set and readiness make him arguably the best internal option to anchor the Mets' center field now and in the future.
External Market Options: A Limited Pool of Attractive Candidates
The external options are less convincing. The Mets have been linked to bigger names like Luis Robert and Cody Bellinger, but each comes with caveats: