27 Aug Getting to Know Pete Alonso
Pete Alonso’s ninth-inning 40th home run blast in the Mets’ 11-5 win over the Royals last Sunday, moved him past the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger for the NL rookie record. With 38 games remaining, Alonso trails only Aaron Judge (52 homers) and Mark McGwire (49) on the all-time rookie list.
Name: Peter Morgan Alonso
Nickname: Polar Bear
Born: December 7, 1994 (age 24) in Tampa, Florida
Drafted: The New York Mets selected Alonso in the second round, with the 64th overall selection, of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He signed with the Mets for a $909,200 signing bonus, and spent 2016 with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League, where he posted a .321 batting average with five home runs and 21 RBIs in thirty games. In 2018 Alonso crushed 42 homers in 159 games between Double-A Binghamton, Triple-A Las Vegas, and the Arizona Fall League.
Which team did you root for growing up in Tampa? Growing up, I was super spoiled because Yankees spring training was 10 minutes from my house, the Tampa Bay Rays are 35 minutes away, and there was a huge baseball culture in Tampa. People ask all the time who I rooted for as a kid. The answer: no one. I had no true loyalty to a specific team. I just loved baseball. I loved watching it just as much as I did playing it. I guess you could call me a baseball junky.
If someone asked you to give a scouting report of yourself, what would you say? Definitely my biggest strength is my bat, but also to go with that, one thing I take pride in is my aggressive approach at the plate. I have a real simple but aggressive approach. If I see a ball that is remotely in my zone, or if I see a pitch that I think I can drive, I’m going to swing at it, or I’m going to take a chance that I’m going to take a good hack at it.
What drives you? My passion. I love this game. There’s a lot of times where I feel like a fan not a player. But I’m lucky enough to play this game. I want to be known as a winner, I want to be known as a guy that can help a team win. I just love to compete. I think it’s the best game in the world.
How do you like playing for the New York Mets so far? I feel like I’m living the dream. The New York Mets seem to treat all their ball players great. It doesn’t make a difference which round you were selected in, they treat all their players with class. I feel very fortunate.
How did it feel to be selected to the All Star team your rookie season? It’s a dream come true. I wouldn’t think in a million years I’d be an All-Star as a rookie.
How did it feel to break the National League Rookie record for home runs? It’s crazy. Coming into camp, I didn’t even know if I was going to make the team or not. To break this record and have a good season, it has been unbelievable!