In a season that has been full of disappointment, Pete Alonso gave Mets fans something to smile about on Monday night, becoming the first Mets player to win the Home Run Derby, doing in dramatic fashion.
On a night where Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was a human highlight reel with 91 homers overall in the tournament, Alonso played the part of Howard Houdini. Three times Alonso stormed back in the final seconds to advance, and, ultimately wrestle the Home Run Derby title away from Guerrero.
Alonso needed five homers in the final 0:56 of Round One to tie Indians first baseman Carlos Santana, a feat he accomplished with five seconds to spare, before winning it with one second left by the count of 14-13.
Next, he beat an NL East foe in Atlanta Braves shortstop Ronald Acuna Jr., 20-19 with a last second blast to center in the second round. Upon connecting on the pitch and watching it sail into the trees beyond the center field wall, Alonso pumped his fists, then flexed his chest with a scream like a professional wrestler. He was onto the final to face a stiff test from Tournament favorite in Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
But the Polar Bear didn't care. He stuck to the program and kept swinging. With 27 seconds left, down 22-21, Alonso got just enough of the ball to deposit it over the right field wall to tie. Just as people realized the ball had left, Alonso was swinging at the next pitch and crushed it five rows deep to left-center with arms extended in the air. Alonso had stunned the world and won 23-22.
In a season where the Mets have been a punchline, Alonso showed Major League Baseball that there is a true star in Flushing.
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