For as valuable as Francisco Lindor was to the Mets’ turnaround last season, Pete Alonso is to the 2025 version of the club.
The Polar Bear had one of his biggest nights of the season on one of the largest stages yet, going 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in New York’s 6-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Chavez Ravine on Wednesday night.
His two-run home run capped off a three-run first inning for New York before a monstrous 447-foot, three-run round-tripper in the eighth put the visitors out of sight to win their fourth game in six against the Dodgers this season.
“I just see the ball really well here,” Alonso said of his showing at Dodger Stadium. “The batter’s box feels good. Hitting in historic parks is really cool. It’s a special place.”
His May hibernation is officially a thing of the past. After batting .349 with a 1.143 OPS, nine home runs, and 33 RBI in his first 36 games of the season, Alonso batted a paltry .194 with a .597 OPS, three home runs, and 13 RBI in his next 24 games.
The trip out west seemed to wake him up. He entered Thursday evening’s series finale against the Dodgers going 4-for-his-last-9 with those two home runs, a double, and seven RBI.
“Early in the season, he wasn’t missing pitches. He wasn’t chasing,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Then he went into a stretch when they made him chase. Now, he’s back to that hitter we saw at the beginning, and when he’s doing that, he’s pretty dangerous.”
Despite paying the exorbitant $30 million price tag this season — the first of a two-year deal that includes an opt-out after 2025 — to put an end to a difficult winter of negotiations to ultimately keep Alonso in Queens, the decision to retain the slugging first baseman is paying dividends for David Stearns and the Mets.
Up to 53 RBI on the season, he is tied with Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs for the National League lead and is just one off the MLB lead, currently held by Rafael Devers of the Boston Red Sox. His 14 home runs also took the Mets’ lead over Lindor.
While he is on pace for 36 home runs this season, his 138-RBI pace is set to smash last year’s total by 50. His .949 OPS is also 161 points higher than his 2024 mark of .788.
“I just feel consistent,” Alonso said. “I just feel like myself. I’ve felt pretty much myself the entire year so far. Pitch-to-pitch, AB-to-AB. That’s all I’m trying to do. I’m trying to be the same guy every day.”
He has been the most important cog in the Mets’ offensive machine this season, which has given Juan Soto the grace to find his footing with his new club while the wins continue to stack up. Things could be noticeably different if Stearns let Alonso walk over the winter, and it could be if he does not make a push to secure him long-term this offseason.
