PITTSBURGH — Pete Alonso sees the Home Run Derby as a way to give back to the community, but he also gets the thrill of competing in an event he dreamed of taking part in since he was a child.
“It’s a packed stadium, a sold-out stadium, and everybody’s watching the same thing,” the Mets first baseman said Monday, a day after announcing he’d be an All-Star and participating in the Derby. “I think that’s the coolest thing about this sport is watching the ball hit so hard and so far. It’s a great event and we get some really fun batting practice.”
The event has a total prize pool of $2.5 million, with the winner receiving $1 million.
Alonso said he will donate the proceeds through his foundation to improving baseball fields in the area.
Alonso won the Derby as a rookie in 2019 and repeated as champion in 2021. The tournament was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
Alonso also competed in the Derby in 2022 and ’23.
The Mets slugger had indicated he would not participate this year unless he was selected to the National League All-Star team.
That selection came to fruition on Sunday, when he was selected as the backup first baseman behind starter Bryce Harper.
Freddie Freeman was also selected as the reserve first baseman for the National League, with Christian Walker notably ignored.
Pitching to Pete Alonso in the Home Run Derby. Paul J. Bereswill, The New York Post
Alonso asked former Mets bench coach Dave Jauss to pitch in the derby.
Jausz has made his pitch to Alonso for the event in 2021 (when Alonso last won) and 2022.
Bobby Witt Jr., Marcell Ozuna, Gunnar Henderson and Alec Bohm have also committed to this year’s tournament, which was won last year by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Alonso was asked if there was anyone he would like to face in the final round to decide the derby.
“For me, one of the craziest derbies was [2008] “At Yankee Stadium,” Alonso said, “I remember the most iconic round, the round that Josh Hamilton had. Of course, this is a fake scenario, but if I [2008] Josh Hamilton, first round of the finals, that’s going to be really fun. For me, that’s a special place because it was one of the best places ever and it was really cool.”
