Peter Alonso has been a major talking point this offseason for the Mets as the team continues to decide what to do at the first base position next season.
The team has multiple avenues it could pursue which include using Jay Bruce, Dominic Smith, Wilmer Flores, and/or Alonso at the position while also having the option of trading or signing someone like every other team in baseball does.
Brodie Van Wagenen has chimed in on his thoughts on the position, and has intimated that Alonso will be given a legitimate chance to win the job in Spring Training next year. He’s taken a special interest in Alonso, though, as he went down to Arizona to watch him play and eat dinner with him as detailed by Mike Puma of the New York Post.
That acknowledgment by Van Wagenen was very appreciated by the first baseman.
“The fact that [Van Wagenen] reached out and just wanted to talk with me and have dinner, it meant a lot personally. I just thought it was a real classy thing to do and that speaks volumes.”
Puma points out that this was important to him likely due to the fact that the team didn’t call him up last season in September, despite breaking out and hitting .285/.395/.579 with 36 home runs and 119 RBI.
However, he got to impress the new GM as he hit a home run in front of him, but Alonso took more pride in his defensive work that game, which is what some have hinted was the reason he wasn’t called up when rosters expanded.
“The best part about that was I made a couple of really good defensive plays in that game. I was really stoked about that.”
One facet of his game he is looking to turn into a strength is his speed, which is a rare plus for someone of his stature. In the Arizona Fall League, he actually has four steals in four attempts thus far.
“Some of the best baserunners in baseball aren’t the fastest people. For me, it’s picking spots and understanding the times to the plate and certain counts, just knowing the situation. Picking the right spot to go and just making a move.
“I want to take the extra base and do what I can do because all runs are extremely valuable and I want to be able to help the team the best I can and just try to add that in my back pocket so I am just not the stereotypical power guy. I want to be a complete baseball player.”
Alonso, 24, is almost certain to get his chance this season at some point and, right now, he is working to make the most of it.
