With his improved play these past couple of weeks, Mets first base prospect Peter Alonso is now hitting a combined .289/.405/.571 with a .976 OPS, 24 doubles, 29 home runs, and is the first minor league player to 100+ RBI’s (105) this season.
These are some incredible numbers, even after he got off to a slow start in Triple-A. Alonso has made some major adjustment of late, and is hitting .478/.500/1.063 with five home runs and 15 RBI over his last eight games with Vegas.
The 23-year-old seems to be more than ready to take that next step to the Major League level. However, the Mets still don’t seem to be just quite ready for him.
This past week reports have been swirling that the Mets will not call up their No. 2 prospect at all in 2018. There have been many different reports of reason why, including a potential logjam, opening a 40-man roster, and his defensive issues.
Let’s begin with the most absurd one, Alonso’s defense. First of all, Alonso has been putting in a ton of extra work with Tim Teufel to improve his glove at first. He is actually said to have taken some positive strides this year.
Also, the Mets are now sitting at 49-66, all of a sudden they are going to start worrying about defense? Come on now, that’s ridiculous. How come Wilmer Flores’ defense at first hasn’t been an issue? How much worse can Alonso really be then Flores and his -2 defensive runs saved and -1.4 UZR.
The Mets know what they have in Flores, a solid ballplayer who can shine at the plate but is a defensive liability. It is unknown what the Mets have in Alonso yet, and the only way they will find out is if they let him get the reps he needs at the big league level.
As far as a spot on the 40-man, there are a handful of players that Alonso deserves a spot ahead of. John Ricco did after all preach that the Mets will be “evaluating their young talent going forward.” Then Mr. Ricco please explain to me why is this organization so loyal and connected to washed up players like Jose Reyes and Jose Bautista?
Since the Mets held onto Bautista at the deadline, he is 7-for-his-last-55 at the plate. These veterans have a strong track record, but they mean absolutely nothing for the Mets in the future. There is no reason whatsoever that they should contain a roster spot over a guy who just might be the first baseman of the future.
The Mets need to follow the other teams in the NL East in calling up their young and talented top prospects.
Just look at the Braves, who are suddenly up there with the top teams in baseball after promoting both 20-year old Ronald Acuna Jr and Ozzie Albies. Even the Nationals took a chance in giving 19-year old Juan Soto the call, and he has thrived for them.
With the Mets record where it is, there is no reason for the organization to wait any longer to give Alonso a shot. Even if the slugger comes up and struggles, you need to let him work through it and adjust to big league pitching.
Peter Alonso has done more than enough to show he is ready, and he certainly should be rewarded with a chance in the show.
Enough of the lame excuses, it’s Pete Alonso’s time to shine in Flushing.
