Mets' first baseman Pete Alonso views his home run record as a thrilling dream to relish, despite his emphasis on prioritizing team success initially.
Pete Alonso, the power-hitting first baseman for the New York Mets, made history on Tuesday night by breaking Darryl Strawberry's long-standing franchise home run record. Alonso surpassed Strawberry's mark of 252 home runs in just 965 games, a feat achieved faster than Strawberry himself managed.
In the third inning of the game against the Atlanta Braves, Alonso hit his 253rd home run, shattering Strawberry's 35-year-old record. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, watching the moment unfold, admitted to getting emotional, describing Alonso as "a kid with a new toy."
Alonso's path to the record was marked by several standout moments. His rookie season in 2019 was nothing short of spectacular, as he hit an impressive 53 home runs, a franchise record. Since then, he has consistently demonstrated his power, with three seasons recording over 40 home runs and five seasons with 30 or more.
Despite the significance of the record, Alonso downplayed its importance, emphasizing the team's playoff race and his role as a contributor. He stated that the record would not fully set in until after the current season. However, his actions suggested otherwise, as his two-home-run night helped the Mets snap a seven-game losing streak and secure a 13-5 victory.
Strawberry, who held the record until Tuesday, congratulated Alonso upon breaking the record, acknowledging Alonso’s achievement. Alonso, aware of the man who set the record, knows the significance of this milestone. He has been compared to Mount Rushmore-type players of the '86 championship Mets team and the '80s Mets team as a whole, solidifying his place as one of baseball's most elite power hitters since his debut in 2019.
The Mets, currently six games back of the Philadelphia Phillies for the National League East lead, will undoubtedly benefit from Alonso's consistent power production as they continue their pursuit of a playoff spot. As Alonso continues to break records and lead the team, Mets fans can look forward to many more exciting moments in the future.
[1] [Source for facts about Alonso's career progression] [2] [Source for facts about Alonso's record-breaking pace] [3] [Source for fact about Alonso breaking the record] [4] [Source for fact about Strawberry's congratulations] [5] [Source for facts about Alonso's standout moments]
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