Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Just one night after launching home run number 99 of his career, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso crossed the 100 plateau in the team’s 9-4 win over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.
With one out in the top of the first, Big Pete jumped on a 2-2 offering from Edward Cabrera at the top of the zone and absolutely crushed it 425 feet away to deep left-center field to give the Mets the early 2-0 lead and pencil his name into the record books.
Alonso said postgame that all he could think to himself as he rounded the bases after reaching the milestone was “wow!”
“I’m just really blessed to have this opportunity and to be able to perform at an extremely high level. There are so many people that have been in my life that I’m so thankful for; family, friends, coaches, teammates,” Alonso said.
He added, “Without those people having such a positive impact on me, me being able to perform this consistently wouldn’t be able to happen. I just want to say thank you to everybody in my life that’s had a positive impact on me, I’m really appreciative.”
Alonso became the second-fastest player (347 games) in MLB history to reach the 100 career home run plateau, only trailing Philadelphia Phillies slugger Ryan Howard (325 games). You have to think Alonso might’ve blown by that record if not for the 2020 pandemic shortened season.
When made aware of where he stands on that list, Alonso said, “wow that’s sick! Those are the best heavy-weight hitters on that list. It’s really special. I’m just truly thankful and blessed.”
Alonso added, “Hopefully I can get to two, three, four, five, six hundred more.”
He certainly didn’t take long to get started on that, as he cranked home run number 101 leading off the bottom of the ninth. The slugger finished the night 2-for-4 with two homers, three RBI, and a walk.
Alonso now has three home runs over the past two days and is up to 32 on the season, which is tied for second in the National League with Atlanta Braves outfielder Adam Duvall.
The big man has been doing everything he can to put the Mets offense on his back and carry this team of late. Alonso is now hitting .298 with two triples, 10 doubles, 14 homers, 33 RBI, and a .974 OPS in the second half.
Mets manager Luis Rojas has certainly taken notice, saying postgame that Alonso has been looking like the massive power threat we saw during the 2019 season.
“He’s one of the special players in this game. He can change the game easily with one swing, and we’re seeing his stroke. He looks like the Pete Alonso we all know and the Pete Alonso that was swinging in 2019 that was hitting all those homers,” the skipper said.
Alonso is now up to 22 doubles, 84 RBI, a .874 OPS, and of course the 32 homers on the season. While the Mets offense has struggled at times, Big Pete has certainly done his job at the plate this season.
Congrats on #100 and 101, here’s to many many more in a Mets uniform.
