There’s an old belief that if a bird happens to poop on your head, it’s a sign of good luck.
There isn’t much known about what it might mean if a bird were to die near someone’s big league debut, but maybe Carson Benge serves as an interesting example.
In a game filled with highs and lows, the Mets’ rookie had a strange and remarkable experience, ultimately helping the team to an 11-7 win over the Pirates at Citi Field.
How did this align with your expectations, Carson?
Reflecting on the quirky day, Benji simply said, “Everything and more.”
From the start, his performance as the team’s No. 2 prospect consistently improved with each at-bat. He recorded two strikeouts initially, including one against Paul Skeens. After feeling a bit overwhelmed, he reminded himself to breathe, stating, “Take a deep breath, calm down,” before facing Johan Ramirez and Mason Montgomery in the fifth. After struggling a bit initially, Benji managed to foul two balls, missed three, and earned eight walks.
Feeling more settled by the sixth inning, he stepped up for his next pitch from Justin Lawrence of the Pirates, a first-pitch sweeper that he sent soaring into the right field stands for his first major league home run.
Typically more reserved on the field, the 23-year-old let his emotions show as he noticed the ball flying away. He touched first base, leapt into the air, and crouched down, expressing the joy he’d dreamt of as a kid.
“I felt chills,” Benji shared. He had been impressive during spring training and found out only on Monday that he’d made the opening day roster. “This is where I’m supposed to be and I’m just having fun.”
As he made his way around the bases, he approached the dugout, where Coach Carlos Mendoza remarked that Benji said it was fun. “I thought, ‘That’s right,’” Benji recalled with a smile.
While passing through a line of high-fives, he received a big hug from Juan Soto instead of just slaps on the back.
Feeling the excitement from a cheering crowd, he climbed to the top of the dugout for a well-deserved curtain call.
“It means the world,” Benji stated, noting that his parents had come from Oklahoma along with 22 friends and family to witness the moment. “It’s definitely a big thing for all the people who have sacrificed so much for me to come and see it happen.”
In addition to his home run, Benji snagged a five-pitch walk in the eighth inning and stole second base, though these experiences marked the final parts of his memorable debut. There were odd moments too, suggesting that he was truly ready for anything.
“I heard a thud” right at the end of the game, he recounted. Looking over, he noticed a bird had fallen just a few feet away in the seating area.
“I looked over and it was right at the bottom,” he explained. “It’s a countdown.”
Staying focused on the current play, he observed that he was the only one aware of the situation on the field.
“I kind of looked around and thought, ‘Is anyone going to get this?’” he noted. “No one was watching, so I wasn’t going to stop the game.”
Eventually, fans noticed too and began yelling for him to take care of it. He declined, and stadium personnel quickly came out to address the bird, concluding what had been a surreal debut day for Benji.
But, what might that mean, good or bad?
“I’m not superstitious,” Benji claimed. “It went well.”
