Pete Alonso etched his name into the history books when he broke the long-standing New York Mets home run record held by Darryl Strawberry for the past 35 year, when he cracked home run number 253 over the right field wall at Citi Field on Tuesday.
It was the first of a barrage of Mets homers on Tuesday in a much needed 13-5 laugher.
When Alonso watched the ball land in the Mets bullpen, a grin creaped across his face, then pumped his fist in the air as finally made the long-standing record all his own. Alonso is now the fourth active player to lead a franchise in home runs, the others being Mike Trout with the Angels, Manny Machado with the Padres, and Giancarlo Stanton, when he was a member of the Marlins.
"I love this city. I love this fanbase." Alonso said in post-game.
"Congratulations on breaking the home run record," Darryl Strawberry said in a recorded video posted to X last night. "It's well deserved. You are a home grown player."
Alonso would tack onto his record with a solo shot in the sixth that helped give the Mets an 11-5 lead.
The Polar Bear wasn't the only one launching balls on Tuesday. Three other Mets went deep as well. Francisco Alvarez went yard twice, including blasting a two-run bomb that got the party started for the Mets in the second inning.
Brandon Nimmo cracked a three-run blast in the fourth that gave New York a 8-5 lead.
Brett Baty hit a tack-on homer in the seventh that followed Alvarez's second bomb of the night to cap the scoring at 13-5.
Of course with Alonso now firmly entrenched as the home run king the questions will be asked: Will Alonso return to New York in 2026? Will he stay a Met?
"The business side is the business side. If they decide to go in another direction, for me, it's been an absolute treat and pleasure here," Alonso said last night.
Talk about a shot across the bow of David Stearns and Steve Cohen. Alonso signed a two-year deal late in the off-season when he couldn't get the long term deal he was looking for. The Blue Jays and Giants were also in on the Alonso sweepstakes at the time.
Of course the Jays won't be in the mix next winter, they signed Vlad Guererro Jr. to a long term deal. But the Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees would be among teams that could push the Mets for Alonso in the off-season. Of course, the Mets should do everything they can to keep him (bear in mind they did make Alonso a seven year offer last season that he rejected).
If the 2025 season is indeed the end for Alonso, it's been a pleasure to watch. His homerun at the very least guarantees his spot in the Mets Hall of Fame.
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