PITTSBURGH — Carson Benge received a break Saturday, but not the kind that appears likely to send him to the injured list.
The rookie outfielder was diagnosed with a bone bruise, a day after he jammed his left wrist while completing a sliding catch in left field. Benge was removed from the game with discomfort in the wrist and X-rays were negative. Imaging on Saturday indicated the bone bruise, interim manager Andy Green said before the Mets’ 9-0 loss to the Pirates.
It left the Mets without one of their hottest hitters for the short term, but likely in position to reinstate him into the lineup within the next few days.
“I knew something didn’t feel right, and after probably 10 seconds it kind of wore off,” Benge said of his collision with the left field fence at PNC Park. “Then when I got back in the dugout and all of the adrenaline kind of wore off, it kind of lit back up again.”
The play was the latest defensive gem for the 23-year-old Benge, who has shined offensively and defensively.
“I always want to be in there every single day, but I feel like this isn’t something that is going to take me a long time to come back from,” Benge said.
The Mets activated infielder Gabriel Arias and optioned Eric Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse. Arias was claimed off waivers from the Guardians on Friday, two days after he was designated for assignment.
“I think he provides us a greater measure of defensive versatility than Eric Wagaman does,” Green said. “We really like Wags’ bat, but given who we have at DH and first base it’s hard to find him consistent opportunity. Gabe gives u an opportunity to rest the regulars on the left side — if Francisco [Lindor] needs a day off and even some of the games where you get a blowout situation and you get somebody off their feet.”
