Pete Alonso’s Pursuit Up Mets’ Home Run List

The rate at which Pete Alonso is hitting home runs has already put him in elite company for both Mets and major league history. When he recorded his 100th last September, he was the second-fastest to reach that milestone. His two-home run day in Philadelphia brought his total to 113 in 400 games–good for 13th-most by a Met. For the sake of comparison, it took franchise leader Darryl Strawberry 524 games to get to that number. (Strawberry has 252 home runs with the Mets, for context.)

It’s dangerous to get ahead of ourselves, especially when it comes to team records, but let’s look at his potential progression in the Mets’ power hierarchy near-term with players Alonso is eyeing to surpass this season alone.

Ed Kranepool (118 homers): A career-long Amazin’ for 18 seasons, Ed Kranepool‘s statistics are more a reflection of longevity. His highest home run total was 16, accomplished in 1966. He hit 14 in 1971, 11 in the miracle year of 1969, and posted 10 homers on five separate occasions. Serving primarily as a pinch-hit specialist in the late 1970s prevented him from adding to his totals, but it was a role he performed very well.

Edgardo Alfonzo (120): Of all the great qualities Edgardo Alfonzo provided during his time with the Mets, power hitter would not immediately come to mind. But he was remarkably consistent—especially from 1997 through 2002. “Fonzie” eclipsed 150 hits five times, had an on-base percentage of .380, and never had more than 85 strikeouts. With such great plate discipline, occasionally some would leave the yard. In that six-season span, he averaged 19 homers—including 27 in 1999, still the most ever by a Mets second baseman.

Kevin McReynolds (122): The laconic Arkansas outfielder had a 24-homer clip in his initial five-year stint in New York. He never was a fan favorite and never commanded attention like many of his teammates despite being reliable and consistent. Kevin McReynolds was the key piece in the trade that sent Kevin Mitchell to San Diego. Although he didn’t fill the attitude quotient of Mitchell, he was an anchor for the lineup starting in 1987 when achieved a career-best 29 homers. He followed that with 27 in 1988, arguably his best season overall. After being dealt away in 1991, McReynolds returned in ’94 to less stellar results. Over 201 plate appearances, he managed to go deep only four times.

Todd Hundley (124): He may be ninth on the Mets’ all-time home run list, but no one had more homers for the Mets during the 1990s than Todd Hundley. He also posted a two-year power stretch as impressive as anyone. His 41 home runs in 1996 eclipsed the single-season high for catchers (previously held by Brooklyn Dodgers legend Roy Campanella) while also setting a Mets club record at the time. Both marks have since been topped, but he followed that year with 30 homers for 1997. A career-threatening elbow injury and the acquisition of Mike Piazza effectively brought his production to a halt.

Lucas Duda (125): He left the Mets in 2017 as Citi Field’s home run leader, and is still first in that category. Lucas Duda hit 30 homers in 2012 and 2013 combined, then had 30 in 2014 alone. During New York’s road to the 2015 National League pennant, he delivered two home runs which signaled an imminent celebration. The first came in Cincinnati—a first-inning grand slam in what would be the division clincher. The other, which doesn’t count towards his total but is otherwise significant, came in Chicago—a three-run blast (also in the first inning) in Game 4 of the NLCS. Duda had serious power surges, especially so with a nine-homer tear over eight games from July 25 through August 2 when the Mets took over first place.

Michael Conforto (132): It’s difficult right now to put his Mets career into context, but he was better than many realize. By the time the 2019 season was over, a year marked by a personal-high 33 home runs, Michael Conforto had accumulated 109, which moved him into 12th on the all-time list. He also became one of five Mets to tally hit at least 25 homers in four consecutive seasons as well as the fifth to record at least 30 homers, 80 walks, and 90 RBIs (joining David Wright, Darryl Strawberry, Carlos Beltrán, and Howard Johnson). Conforto still looked the part of a major offensive contributor during the shortened 2020 season, but unfortunately it’s gone all downhill since.

Carlos Beltrán (149): This will take a little bit more work, but a great power year could get Pete to 150. Carlos Beltrán is another polarizing figure in Mets history for several reasons. But as far as on-field performance is concerned, there’s no doubt he’s one of the best free agent acquisitions ever—if not the best. Beltrán shook off a rough first year in New York to put up MVP-like numbers in 2006 as the Mets cruised to a division title. Beltrán averaged 22 homers in six full seasons (two were cut short because of injuries) to compliment his outstanding center field play. Alonso already overtook Beltrán in one respect, the single-season home run marked shared by him and Hundley at 41. It might be only a matter of time before Pete is on top again, even if he doesn’t get there this year.