Oklahoma State players drafted on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft ft. Carson Benge
The 2024 MLB Draft is in full swing as Day 1 has concluded, with the Oklahoma State Cowboys in action. While there are two more days and 18 more rounds to take place, the top players have had their names called. The Cowboys finished the 2024 season with a 42-19 record but were eliminated from the postseason in the Stillwater Regional.
The Cowboys had just one player who came off the board early. Take a look at where the one Oklahoma State player selected on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft landed.
Oklahoma State players drafted on Day 1 of the 2024 MLB Draft
Round 1 picks
#1 Carson Benge
Carson Benge was the first member of the Oklahoma State Cowboys to hear his name called. He was selected 19th overall by the New York Mets. The organization announced the selection, tweeting:
"With the 19th overall pick in the #MLBDraft, we’ve selected outfielder Carson Benge from Oklahoma State."
The pitcher/outfielder hit .335 batting average, 18 home runs, 64 RBIs, 72 runs scored, 83 hits and a 1.109 OPS. On the mound, he went 3-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 37.0 innings pitched last season.
He hit .339 with 25 home runs, 107 RBIs, 131 runs scored, 151 hits and a 1.064 OPS in his two-year collegiate career. As a pitcher, he went 5-4 with a 4.88 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 72.0 innings pitched.
Peter Flaherty III of Baseball America praised the selection, tweeting:
"With the 19th overall pick, the New York Mets have selected OF Carson Benge. Wiry athlete. Noisy operation, but consistently on top. Serious hand speed, barrel explodes thru hitting zone. Adv. feel to hit, 55 PWR. Great athlete with a + arm. Chance for CF."
Benge revealed that the Mets were among the teams he wanted to be selected by, in an interview with SNY TV:
"Being able to come to the Mets was one of my top teams that I really wanted to go so being able to do that was definitely really cool for me. All the guys, all the people I've met with all of the meetings, I really liked every single one of them."
Check out Carson Benge's full comments below: