PHOENIX — Pete Alonso grew up thinking Mike Piazza meant the Mets, so tying the Hall of Fame catcher for third place on the franchise's all-time home run list was a surreal accomplishment, the first baseman said.
That home run came on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, when Alonso hit his 220th career homer.
“[Piazza] “He was one of my childhood heroes,” Alonso said before the Mets' 8-5 loss to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field. “It's kind of amazing that I have that kid in me. Every athlete has that, but I think it's cool that I have that kid in me. And for me as a baseball player, as an athlete, as a competitor, I think, 'I'm so blessed that I'm trying to contribute to my team. I'm so blessed that I can contribute.'”
Darryl Strawberry holds the franchise record for home runs with 252. Next is David Wright with 242.
Alonso, who is set to become a free agent after this season, said any thoughts of using Strawberry as a catcher will have to wait.
“It's definitely something I've thought about, but it's something you have to think about in the offseason. Just knowing where I am on the list is special,” said Alonso, who was 0-for-3 with one RBI on a sacrifice fly.
“Darryl Strawberry, David Wright, Mike Piazza, they're very important to the organization.”
Alonso said the Mets' Mount Rushmore (he named five players instead of four) consists of Strawberry, Wright, Piazza, Tom Seaver and Jacob deGrom.
Manager Carlos Mendoza said Sunday that the Mets plan to add position players and pitchers as part of September promotions, looking to add speed and versatility to the roster.
Luisángel Acuña, who played second base, shortstop and center field for Triple-A Syracuse, fits Mendoza's description perfectly.
Acuna's stats this season include 34 stolen bases.
Brandon Nimmo batted cleanup for the second time this trip, but was hitless in three at-bats, with one walk and one run scored.
Nimmo, who had been in a slump, had a good game on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, hitting three out of five at-bats.
