NEW YORK — Sixteen days in the past, Pete Alonso was confronted with an emotional predicament.
Hours earlier than a late September Sunday evening bout towards the Phillies — the Mets‘ ultimate regular-season contest at Citi Discipline — the slugger fielded questions on whether or not it will be his final dwelling sport with the membership. He is simply weeks away from changing into one of the vital coveted gamers in free company. Again then — and now — there have been and are not any ensures that Alonso can be the beginning first baseman for the Mets subsequent season. All yr, Alonso maintained that he isn’t serious about that but.
Earlier than his first at-bat that evening, Mets followers determined to offer Alonso some love within the type of a stadium-wide standing ovation. Simply in case it actually was his ultimate dwelling sport as a Met, they applauded Alonso for these previous six seasons in Queens, the place he hit 53 dwelling runs and gained the Nationwide League Rookie of the 12 months award, turned a four-time All-Star and a two-time Residence Run Derby champion, and crushed his first profession postseason dwelling run. However Alonso and his supervisor Carlos Mendoza saved repeating the identical factor: It would not be his final dwelling sport this yr.
Whereas Alonso tipped his helmet to the followers for his or her help, and referred to as it a “storybook” reception, he knew in his core he wasn’t carried out slugging in Queens but.
“The entire imaginative and prescient, the entire aim was that wasn’t going to be the final sport for us,” he mentioned Tuesday, reflecting on the standing ovation. “So, collectively as a gaggle, we need to keep locked in. However hopefully, we are able to have much more baseball right here.”
Two weeks since that poignant second, the Mets are again at Citi Discipline — forward 2-1 within the Nationwide League Division Sequence towards the Phillies after successful 7-2 in Sport 3 — partially due to Alonso’s heroics. What a distinction two weeks and a number of clutch dwelling runs could make.
On Tuesday, Alonso’s opposite-field dwelling run off Aaron Nola gave the Mets a 1-0 lead within the second inning. It was his fourth profession postseason dwelling run, and he turned the primary Met since Daniel Murphy to homer in consecutive playoff video games. Curiously, all three of Alonso’s postseason dwelling runs this yr have been to the alternative area, which FOX Sports activities MLB analyst Álex Rodríguez mentioned is a tell-tale signal {that a} energy hitter is locked in. Alonso appeared to agree.
“Proper now, I am simply making an attempt to get a pitch I can deal with and simply put a great swing on it and keep inside myself,” Alonso mentioned. “If I am hitting balls the opposite manner, it is usually a great signal.”
These postseason homers are additionally a great signal for his upcoming free company. Two weeks in the past, it appeared unlikely that Alonso would yield the sort of contract he’d need from a Mets group he is been a star of for the previous six years.
After which he dramatically saved the Mets’ season final week in Milwaukee. New York was getting ready to elimination when the Polar Bear awakened and roared. And, for a participant who thrives within the highlight and feeds off the gang’s vitality, it would not seem like he is slowing down anytime quickly, both.
“He is on,” Mendoza mentioned of Alonso. “And I believe we have been saying it the entire yr. He can carry a staff. He can carry us. And we’re right here due to that massive swing he received in Milwaukee.”
The primary baseman’s three-run, go-ahead homer within the ninth inning in Milwaukee superior the Mets to the NLDS and can eternally be ingrained within the hearts and minds of followers. However, greater than that, the unforgettable blast appeared to get up part of him that had been dormant this yr.
Alonso’s future with the Mets has been doubtful largely due to his lackluster season — by his requirements. His OPS+ (123), which he recorded for the second straight yr, dwelling runs (34), RBIs (88) and OPS (.788) all represented profession lows for a full season.
All yr, teammates and Mets followers waited for Alonso to interrupt out and supply Queens along with his staple Polar Bear second. However in his final seven regular-season video games, because the Mets had been combating to clinch a postseason berth, the slugger hit simply .120 with a .393 OPS, 10 strikeouts and no dwelling runs. His .232 batting common and .761 OPS with runners in scoring place for the season had been additionally profession lows.
Whether or not the strain of his stroll yr was attending to him is unclear. Alonso reiterated all through the season that he was feeling optimistic about his preparation and that the clutch hits would come.
Lastly, they did — and Alonso’s eccentric character returned with them. When he was soaked in champagne in Milwaukee following maybe the largest dwelling run of his profession, Alonso launched the Mets’ playoff pumpkin. “Nothing’s extra like fall than playoff baseball and pumpkins,” he mentioned, including with a goofy smile that he picked the pumpkin himself. Moments like these are what point out to Alonso’s teammates that he is feeling his finest, and extra importantly, primed to supply on the plate.
“He is a man that could be very emotional,” Francisco Lindor mentioned. “He is a man who tries to cover his feelings at instances, however more often than not he lets individuals learn about it. However I believe he is simply having a blast proper now. He is actually having fun with himself. And I believe he is embracing these moments and I believe he desires to be in these moments, as nicely. I am completely happy for him.”
Luis Severino #40, Pete Alonso #20 and Jose Quintana #62 of the New York Mets pose after Alonso hit a solo dwelling run within the second inning towards the Philadelphia Phillies throughout Sport 3 of the NLDS at Citi Discipline on Oct. 08, 2024. (Picture by Elsa/Getty Photographs)
The Mets are higher when Alonso is having enjoyable. They’ve gained all three playoff video games that he is homered in up to now, and people pivotal swings might play an enormous function in his upcoming contract negotiations, too.
Steve Cohen grew up a childhood Mets fan, and now he owns the staff he loves and is making an attempt his finest to vary the tradition in Queens. Alonso’s omnipresent optimism and outward want to play for the Mets for the remainder of his profession is an enormous a part of that tradition change. Now that he is additionally producing within the playoffs, what’s stopping Cohen from forking over a contract that can fulfill Alonso, and maybe make the soon-to-be 30-year-old a homegrown Met for all times?
Alonso is doing his half, and he isn’t carried out but. Neither are the Mets, who’re one win from advancing to their first NLCS since 2015. Alonso controls his personal future, and if his 2024 postseason magic continues, he may simply get precisely what he desires — a long-term extension to play for the one professional metropolis he is ever recognized.
“One in every of my favourite teammates, Mike Napoli, mentioned: ‘You need to be well-known? Do it within the postseason,'” Lindor mentioned. “That is the time to do it. You need to receives a commission? Do it within the postseason. Lots of gamers have made loopy cash as a result of they carry out within the postseason. I hope [Alonso] continues to do this.
“I hope he goes loopy and makes as a lot as he desires to make.”
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand coated the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Each day Information. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Lengthy Island and now lives in Queens. Comply with her on Twitter at@DeeshaThosar.
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