PITTSBURGH — Pete Alonso is waiting to find out his status for the All-Star Game before considering whether he will participate in the Home Run Derby.
The Mets first baseman said Friday that he is taking the same approach as last season, when he waited until the All-Star roster announcement before committing to his fourth straight Home Run Derby.
Alonso won the event in 2019 and ’21. Last year he was eliminated in the first round.
“If I’m selected to the All-Star team, then I am definitely open to doing it,” Alonso said, referring to the Home Run Derby. “It’s a super fun event.”
Alec Bohm and Gunnar Henderson have committed to the Home Run Derby, which will be held July 15 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The All-Star rosters will be released Sunday. Bryce Harper has already been voted the National League’s starting first baseman.
Alonso entered Friday with a .242/.326/.468 slash line with 18 homers and 48 RBIs. His competition at first base in the NL also includes Freddie Freeman and Christian Walker.
“Everything last year kind of happened super last minute, that is the nature of the game,” Alonso said Alonso, who went 2-for-3 with a double before the Mets’ 14-2 blowout loss to the Pirates. “I am still waiting.”
Mark Vientos was on the bench for a night off in this stretch of 17 straight days with a game.
Mendoza said his plan is to play Vientos straight to the All-Star break beginning Saturday.
Jose Iglesias, who went 1-for-4 with an RBI groundout, received the start at third base in Vientos’ spot.
Harrison Bader returned to the starting lineup after missing the previous two games with neck soreness.
Bader — who was 0-for-3 on Friday — left Tuesday’s game in Washington after a collision with the outfield fence.
DJ Stewart started for a second straight game to give the Mets another left-handed bat against stud Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes.
Stewart got the start in right field and went 0-for-3.
Tyrone Taylor has seen most of the action in right field with Starling Marte on the injured list.
“I have to be careful here with Taylor after playing four straight,” Mendoza said. “There is a lot I have got to manage here and it’s one of those I felt it was a good day for Stewart to be in there.”
With Christian Scott’s return Wednesday, the Mets have at least one homegrown player on the roster from five separate drafts: Scott (2021), David Peterson and Vientos (2017), Alonso (2016), Jeff McNeil (2013) and Brandon Nimmo (2011).