Skip to main content

Pete Alonso Becomes MLB Rookie Home Run King

Pete Alonso is now the All-Time Rookie Home Run King.

The Mets first baseman broke the home run rookie record previously held by Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, by blasting his 53rd home run of the season in the Mets 3-0 victory over the Atlanta Braves, Saturday.


With New York already lead 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Alonso took a two-seam fastball from Atlanta’s Mike Foltynewicz and planted it over the wall in right-center field for the solo shot.

As he swung through the pitch, all 32,000 fans in attendance rose in excitement as the Mets first baseman extended his arms over his head as he reached first. As he rounded third for home, Alonso egged on the crowed to keep cheering, before embracing Robinson Cano at home plate and greeting the conga-line of teammates waiting at the top step of the dugout.

In a season full of disappointment and broken dreams, Alonso has been the one true bright spot for the Mets this year.

Not only did he shatter the Mets club and rookie record for home runs in a season to solidify his place as the NL Rookie of the Year, he became the face of the franchise and team leader virtually overnight.

If there is one player who personifies what the Mets want in its players, Alonso is that and more.  Much more in fact.

Alonso has also proven to be a true New Yorker; even donating his 9/11 tribute cleats that he wore on the 18th Anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum. The donation will take place Tuesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. at the museum at the World Trade Center.

You can fault General Manager Brodie Van Wagenen for all of the mistakes he made this year, but the one thing he got right was promoting Alonso to the big leagues out of Spring Training.

It is easy to forget that seven months ago, there was a thought that Alonso would begin the season in Triple-A. That of course is laughable to think about now. Van Wagenen and manager Mickey Callaway gave the 24-year old Tampa native a shot in spring ball and he ran with it all the way to Rookie of the Year honors.


If the 2020 Mets are going to have World Series expectations next year, the reason why will be because of the guy wearing number 20.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jets, Dolphins and Patriots Playoff Breakdown

Here are the formuli that could get the Jets into and out of the playoff party this season: 1) If the Jets win against Seattle and Miami, they win the AFC East based on a better conference record (8-4) than the New England Patriots, even if New England wins out as well. 2) If the Patriots win out and the Dolphins win out and finish at 11-5, the Jets would be 10-6, or 9-7, and probably out of the playoffs. Both New England and Miami would make the playoffs, with the Dolphins as a divison winner and the Patriots as a wild card. The Patriots make the postseason if Baltimore loses one of its final two games. 3) If the Patriots win out and the Dolphins and Jets split, then the Patriots win the AFC East. The Jets will have to hope that they beat Miami to win that tie-breaker and, further, hope that they have a better conference record than the Baltimore Ravens in order to clinch the sixth seed. 4) If the Patriots and Ravens win out and the Dolphins and Jets split their final two games, then ...
8 comments
Read more

Francisco Lindor Remains Red Hot as Mets Top Phillies

 Francisco Lindor remains the hottest player in Queens right now.  The Mets shortstop blasted two more home runs, including a three-run blast in the bottom of the eighth inning, Monday night to help propel the Mets to a 5-4 win over Philadelphia.   Lindor who typically struggles in the month of April is putting together a heck of a month. Monday's two hit effort was the 10th game in the last 11 where Lindor has recorded a hit. In fact in the month of April alone this year, Lindor was hitting at .311 coming into Monday's action.  On the year, Lindor is batting .284 with five homers and 13 RBI.  Lindor's efforts proved to be prophetic, as the Phillies Alec Bohm crushed a three-run bomb off Edwin Diaz in the top of the ninth to cut the Mets lead to a single run. Fortunately for New York, Diaz was able to shut the door with strikeouts of Trea Turner and Bryce Harper.  New York (16-7) has now won five in a row.  
Post a Comment
Read more

Mets Keep Rolling into Phillies Series

 The New York Mets are feeling pretty good about things right now!  The Amazin's swept a four game series from the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, winning 7-4 Sunday afternoon. It was the first time since 1986 that the Amazin's had swept such a series from St. Louis. We all know what happened later that season.    Well, not to get too far ahead of ourselves, because the 2025 version now faces a very stiff challenge. The Mets will face their arch rivals the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday with only two games separating the two teams in the NL East.  The Mets took out Philly in the NLDS last October, so this figures to be a heck of showdown. The Mets begin a month long stretch against teams that are likely postseason contenders like the Phillies, D-Backs, Cubs, Yankees, Red Sox, and Dodgers.  If the Mets (15-7) are this good, we will know for sure in a month.
Post a Comment
Read more