In a career defined by power and prowess, Pete Alonso etched his name deeper into Mets history books on Saturday, joining an exclusive club of franchise greats by slamming his 200th career home run.
The momentous occasion came after Alonso’s initial hiccup at the plate, as he fouled off the first pitch of the at-bat. Undeterred, the 29-year-old slugger unleashed a towering two-run blast that soared an impressive 403 feet over the right-center-field wall. This marked his eighth home run of the season, further solidifying his reputation as a two-time Home Run Derby winner.
Reflecting on the milestone, Alonso described the achievement as a “really special moment,” emphasizing the surreal feeling of being among the fastest players to reach this hallowed mark. Former Mets greats, including Darryl Strawberry and David Wright, lauded Alonso’s accomplishment, with Strawberry expressing his hope for Alonso to surpass his own record and become the Mets’ all-time home run leader.
Alonso’s meteoric rise to stardom began in 2019 when he burst onto the major league scene, capturing the hearts of Mets fans everywhere by clinching the Home Run Derby title and earning NL Rookie of the Year honors. Since then, he has solidified his status as one of the premier power hitters in the game, becoming only the fifth player in MLB history to achieve three 40-home run seasons within his first five years in the league.
Furthermore, Alonso holds multiple Mets single-season records, including most home runs (53) and RBI (131) in a season. With 512 career RBI to his name, Alonso currently ranks 10th all-time in Mets history, trailing behind legends such as Cleon Jones and José Reyes.
As the season progresses, Alonso’s future with the Mets remains uncertain, with the impending free agency looming at the end of the season. While Alonso acknowledges the significance of potentially having his number retired, contract negotiations are expected to take center stage once the season concludes.
“Pete’s a really good player. He’s an important part of our organization,” remarked Mets president David Stearns. “We’re excited to have him here. Certainly, we hope that we can have him here for a while.” With Alonso’s talent and determination, his journey from rookie sensation to Mets legend is far from over.