PITTSBURGH — Pete Alonso is waiting to qualify for the All-Star Game before considering whether to participate in the Home Run Derby.
The Mets first baseman said Friday he’s taking the same approach as last season, waiting until the All-Star roster is announced before playing in his fourth consecutive Home Run Derby.
Alonso won the tournament in 2019 and 2021. He was eliminated in the first round last year.
“If I make the All-Star team, I’d love to participate,” Alonso said of the Home Run Derby. “It’s a lot of fun.”
Alec Bohm and Gunnar Henderson have been selected to play in the Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, on July 15. The All-Star roster will be announced Sunday. Bryce Harper has already been named the National League’s starting first baseman.
Alonso was batting .242/.326/.468 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs as of Friday. His competition for first baseman status in the National League also includes Freddie Freeman and Christian Walker.
“Everything that happened last year just happened at the last minute. That’s the nature of baseball,” said Alonso, who was 2-for-3 with a double before the Mets lost 14-2 to the Pirates. “I’m still waiting.”
Mark Vientos was on the bench for rest during this stretch of 17 consecutive days of games.
Mendoza said he plans to use Vientos through the All-Star break, which begins Saturday.
Jose Iglesias, who was one hit in four at-bats with one ground out and an RBI, started at third base in place of Vientos.
Harrison Bader returned to the starting lineup after missing the past two games with neck soreness.
Bader, who was 0-for-3 on Friday, crashed into the outfield fence and left Tuesday’s game at Washington.
DJ Stewart started his second straight game, giving the Mets another left-handed hitter to go against Pirates star right-hander Paul Skenes.
Stewart started in right field but was hitless in three at-bats.
With Starling Marte on the injured list, Tyrone Taylor has played most of the time in right field.
“We’re going up against Taylor after playing four straight games so we’ve got to be careful,” Mendoza said. “We’ve got a lot to deal with here and this was one of those days where I felt like it was a good day for Stewart.”
With Christian Scott’s return on Wednesday, the Mets will have at least one home-grown player on the roster from five different drafts: Scott (2021), David Peterson and Vientos (2017), Alonso (2016), Jeff McNeil (2013) and Brandon Nimmo (2011).
