One year ago today, I sat wondering to myself if there would ever be a Mets player to impact me like David Wright did.
It was Wright’s last game, and as I sat there with my mom in right field, we shared smiles, laughs, welled up eyes and many tears in what was an emotional rollercoaster of a day.
The scoreboard showed Wright many times. As he took batting practice, talked to teammates in the dugout, joked around on the field, and everyone’s eyes were locked in as he took two trips to the plate.
That was a special day and one I will never forget. But it was sad because we were losing our captain.
Fast forward to a calendar year later, and I believe the Mets have a new captain in the making: Pete Alonso.
When Alonso came up, the vibes were very much similar to that of Wright. The way he talked to the media, the selflessness as a player, supporting his teammates and coaches, the performance on the field and the intangibles off of it.
There has been a lot to get excited about with Alonso this year. His Home Run Derby championship, his All-Star game nod that included an RBI base knock, breaking the National League rookie home run record, the Mets’ single season home run record and on Saturday night, breaking the MLB rookie home run record.
The Mets have many talented players, no doubt. From Jacob deGrom to Marcus Stroman, Brandon Nimmo and Michael Conforto, Noah Syndergaard and Amed Rosario, J.D. Davis and Zack Wheeler and many in between. And it’s hard to express, but Alonso is different. He’s very Wright-esque.
Whether it was donating a portion of his Home Run Derby winnings to charity, or buying his teammates cleats to support victims of Sept. 11, Alonso has all the qualities of a leader in just his first big league season.
After the season, there’s no doubt he will also win Rookie of the Year and figures to be a mainstay at first base for years to come. There will be no one better to do it than the one and only, Pistol Pete.
Alonso Quick Hits
- Crushed his 53rd home run, making him the only rookie in major league history to reach that mark.
- Became the second NL rookie with a 120-RBI season (also, Albert Pujols, 130 RBI in 2001).
- He is the sixth rookie in major league history to record 85 extra-base hits, joining Hal Trosky (89), Joe DiMaggio (88), Albert Pujols (88), Ted Williams (86) and Nomar Garciaparra (85).
- Has homered in consecutive games for the eighth time.
- Has more home runs in his first major league season than any Met has hit in his first *two* major league seasons. Darryl Strawberry held the previous mark with 52 home runs through his second season. Thanks to Ryan M. Spaeder (@theaceofspaeder).
- Cracked the Mets’ top-40 in home runs. Is tied for 39th with Jeromy Burnitz.
- Set a Mets rookie record, playing in his 160th game (Passed Lee Mazzilli, 159).
- Is hitting .338 (23-for-68) vs. Atlanta this season with seven homers and 20 RBI.
