Pete Alonso’s dream rookie season will end Sunday, but he isn’t going quietly.
The Mets first baseman cleared the left-field fence at Citi Field in his first at-bat against the Braves on Friday night for homer No. 52, tying him with Aaron Judge for the MLB rookie record. Judge hit 52 homers for the Yankees in 2017.
Alonso’s blast, coupled with a two-run homer from J.D. Davis, carried the Mets to a 4-2 victory over the Braves.
Alonso smashed a line drive off Dallas Keuchel that hit a blue retaining wall behind the left-field fence. Alonso thrust both arms into the air as he rounded first base.
“When I was rounding the bases I felt like a little kid, like a 7-year-old kid,” Alonso said. “I was just kind of overcome with pure joy and emotion. I can’t think of a happier time in my life playing baseball. That’s what dreams for me are made of. It’s unbelievable that it happened.”
Alonso and Judge met at the All-Star Game in Cleveland this season. Now the two sluggers have become entwined within the fabric of the Mets-Yankees rivalry.
“There’s nothing wrong with some friendly competition,” Alonso said. “Some fans don’t think it’s friendly competition, but I feel that is really good for the city and to have good players not just here in Queens, but to have good players over there, I feel like that is a really good thing and a great thing for the city.”
Already this season Alonso had broken Cody Bellinger’s NL rookie record for homers (39) and shattered the franchise mark of 41 that was shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran.
Alonso began the night as the MLB leader in homers and is attempting to become the first Mets player to wear the crown. Alonso’s 119 RBIs tied Wally Berger in 1930 for the second-most by a National League rookie. Albert Pujols established the record with 130 RBIs as a Cardinals rookie in 2001.
A history major at the University of Florida, Alonso appreciates the magnitude of what he’s accomplishing this season.
“When I think of guys like baseball history, I think of old-time guys like Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds,” Alonso said. “To think that as a rookie, I hit more homers than everyone except for one guy, it’s nuts. It’s crazy.”
Though manager Mickey Callaway toyed with the idea of batting Alonso leadoff to perhaps get him an extra at-bat, the first baseman remained in the No. 2 hole, a spot from which he has hit with comfort this season.
The Braves will start Mike Foltynewicz on Saturday and Mike Soroka on Sunday. It leaves Alonso with perhaps eight to 10 plate appearances with a shot to move ahead of Judge.
“You saw the fans tonight, they wanted [Alonso] to tie that so bad,” Callaway said. “And now they are wanting him to take over the lead, and he’s been outstanding. There is something about Pete that draws everybody in and he’s had a heck of a season.”