Pete Alonso has been the reigning Home Run Derby champion for nearly two years now and he is not looking to cede his crown any time soon, as the Mets slugger will once again participate in the competition at this year’s All-Star break.
Metsmerized‘s Mike Mayer reported the news, as Alonso has been asked to once again be part of the field competing in the annual Home Run Derby when the game’s greatest stars head to Colorado for the All-Star Game festivities.
In 2019, Alonso was part of a Home Run Derby field that notably included Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who only had nine regular season home runs entering the competition. Guerrero stole the show however, as he set a derby record for most home runs in a round with 40, taking down Joc Pederson in a matchup that had three overtimes.
Guerrero went on to set another record for most home runs ever hit in the competition with 91, yet it was Alonso who came up victorious, hitting 23 home runs in the final round to beat his fellow rookie counterpart. The derby win was just one part of a magical rookie campaign for Alonso, which saw him take home the Rookie of the Year Award, as well as setting a new rookie record for the most home runs ever hit in a player’s first season.
This year, Alonso has not quite had that some type of an offensive season, as he missed some time with an injury and has not produced the same power numbers the Mets are accustomed to seeing from their young slugger.
Still, Alonso leads the team with his 11 home runs and will look to showcase his power once again, this time in the thin Denver air at Coors Field.
