Pete Alonso thriving as Mets’ DH but still wants to play first base
PHILADELPHIA — The results are not changing Pete Alonso’s mind. He wants to play first base, even though he is on pace to become the greatest hitter of all time as designated hitter.
The sample size is so very small, but Alonso followed up a wildly successful 2022 debut as newly minted National League DH — when he hit a grand slam Saturday in Washington — with a three-run home run and a pair of doubles as the DH on Wednesday.
Of Alonso’s 10 RBIs, nine have come in the two games in which he has not played the field. Alonso has been clear that he prefers having a glove to being stuck in the dugout, though he will do what his manager says.
“I’d rather be out there, but I know that Buck [Showalter is] the one that writes the lineup, and I know that he’s trying to win every single day,” Alonso said after the Mets’ 9-6 win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. “For me, I’d love to play first base every day, but again, [Dominic Smith is] a great first baseman as well.”
Alonso has made big leaps, but Smith is better regarded defensively.
“I don’t want to hear anything about [Alonso] DH’ing anymore,” Showalter said with a smile. “He probably doesn’t want to either.”
When he doesn’t play the field, Alonso’s mission is to stay warm throughout. He watches film, studies scouting reports and sprints in the tunnel.
“Just trying to keep my body hot so I don’t get cold and pull a muscle,” said Alonso, who added he also is paying attention to the game.
After his weekend grand slam, the first of his career, the slugger remarked, “Grannies are sick.”
This time, he was asked how to characterize a three-run homer.
“I mean, they’re sick too,” Alonso said. “All homers are sick.”
Kyle Schwarber finished 0-for-4 with a walk and three strikeouts. The lefty slugger who typically kills the Mets went just 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts in the series.
“Somebody’s going to pay, guy like him,” Showalter said. “I would not want to be the next team trying to get him out. Our guys pitched him really well.”
Trevor May is still “day-to-day,” Showalter said, after the reliever left Monday’s game with a low-grade triceps strain.
“Hopefully he’ll make some improvements, got the day off [Thursday] to work with,” Showalter said. “Hopefully we can dodge the [injured list] with him.”
The Mets tweaked the top of their lineup, flip-flopping Francisco Lindor (who batted second) and Starling Marte (third).
“It’s a different look … [Aaron] Nola had something to do with it,” Showalter said before the game.
Lindor went 1-for-4 with a double, walk and two runs scored, and Marte went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.