Pete Alonso was the 2019 NL Rookie of the Year, blasting 53 home runs.
He led the majors with a run hit in the back when he finished eighth in the MVP poll in 2022.
He was an All-Star in 2023 and ’24.
However, throughout his amazing major league career as he sees him approaching Daryl Strawberry due to the franchise’s home run mark, Alonso hasn’t felt better at the plate than he is now.
What was the last time he felt this was trapped?
“Perhaps a junior at the university,” said the proud university at the University of Florida.
His OPS of that year: 1.128.
His opening up to 21 games this season: 1.220. This is better than anyone in the major league except Judge Aaron.
For Alonso, the game has changed in a few weeks. Alonso shows no signs of slowing down.
Alonso drove two-thirds of the Mets’ run in Saturday’s 3-0 victory over the Cardinals at Citifield.
Francisco Lindor is just as special as he owns the .683 OPS.
Juan Soto, who is beginning to look at the plates better, has a .787 OPS.
The only person I met in the Saturday lineup with a mark better than the .700 was Louis Sangeracúnya (.714).
The Mets desperately needed Alonso and he responded.
In three innings, Alonso crushed the RBI to the left center after Soto’s RBI single cracked into a scoreless game.
The Mets didn’t score again when Alonso destroyed his sixth home run of the season into the second deck on the left in eight innings.
“He’s certain. He has a plan. He’s doing it,” said coach Carlos Mendoza, who has never seen Alonso so passionately. “I don’t think I saw this version last year – maybe towards the end, definitely in the playoffs – but I think it’s now… he’s a dangerous batsman.”
A dangerous batsman early in the batting stage, doubled when Matthew Riveratore tried to sneak in a 1-1 changeup by him.
A dangerous batsman who went deep into the batting, Homer won the battle against John King on six pitch sliders.
“The mistake can go up to 0-0, 3-0, 0-2 – that doesn’t matter,” Alonso said. “Pitchers can still miss the count.”
When they do so, Alonso is not missing.
Maybe he feels more comfortable with what was his second walk year and can opt out of a two-year contract after this season.
He is probably a beneficiary of Soto and has seen a lot of pitches in front of him.
Alonso’s description: “I think my mechanics are very pretty. They can hold them and carry them from pitch to pitch to at-bat. I have a great game plan.
Whatever the cause, the result is a sold-out Citifield raining “MV-PETE” chant.
“Obviously, it’s really flattering,” Alonso said. “It’s a long season.”
