LOS ANGELES — On the final day of the regular season, and often throughout this postseason, Pete Alonso swings his bat like a wand, reminding himself of one more game for the Mets, one more game to play for them. I was able to do it.
By Sunday, all the magic was gone and his future looked amazing.
After Alonso survived a doubleheader in Atlanta. He survived a Game 3 loss in Milwaukee, hitting a three-run home run in the ninth inning that turned the Mets from losers to winners. He survived a potential elimination game at Citi Field on Friday and played what could have been his last game as a Met, with a 10-5, NLCS, and season-ending loss at Dodger Stadium. I finally found it.
“I love being a part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I love representing the city of New York. I love representing Queens,” Alonso said between hugs in the clubhouse. Ta. “This was really special.”
Alonso's walk-off included two infield hits and a walk, and he reached base in three of his five at-bats.
The Mets would now be able to return home, making Alonso an attractive free agent.
Alonso, a second-round pick in 2016, is a lifelong Met and a beloved player.
He cracked the opening roster in 2019 and hasn't really stopped hitting since then, hitting 53 home runs and winning two Home Run Derby titles in his rookie season.
Since Alonso entered the majors, only Aaron Judge has hit more home runs.
“I love this team. I love this organization. This fan base has treated me very well, as well as my family,” Alonso said. “Right now I'm just thinking about the group. Of course, we'll see what happens. When we get there, we'll cross that bridge. But I love New York. …The memories we've made here. It's just amazing. This is why we play baseball.”
There are both on-field and emotional reasons why the Mets will explore every avenue to shut down the slugger, who brings rare power and ranks third in franchise history with 226 home runs.
If he returns, Darryl Strawberry's record of 252 will definitely be lowered.
Alonso is a clubhouse leader who leads with his actions and words, the type who might lend you his bat or orchestrate a humorous routine on the team bus.
“Pete has contributed tremendously to this organization from the beginning,” said Brandon Nimmo, who tried free agency but returned to the Mets on a long-term deal. “He means a lot to this fan base and to this team. We'd love to see him back here, but we also go through that process and that's the business. I also understand.”
There are concerns about how the energetic first baseman, who will turn 30 in December, will age in the future.
Alonso had a great postseason, but the regular season was a bit poor by his standards, with 34 home runs, a .240 batting average, and a career-worst .788 OPS.
Was this a down season or the beginning of a downhill slope?
If the Mets allow Alonso to walk, they could look for an outside replacement and could ask third baseman Mark Vientos to cross the diamond.
Alonso and the Mets' front office have questions to answer, but I'll leave those for another day. On this day, Alonso wanted to reflect on the 2024 Mets.
“We always say this is a zoo, and it's true,” Alonso said. “It's a strange group of guys who have come together and bonded and been through a lot. One of our second basemen is a poster boy and our best-selling artist.”
