The Mets had originally speculated a three-to-four-week absence for slugger Pete Alonso after he injured his wrist off a Charlie Morton fastball on June 7.
On Sunday, just 11 days later, he was back on manager Buck Showalter’s lineup card as the Mets activated their top power bat off the injured list and demoted Mark Vientos to Triple-A Syracuse.
“We had always hoped it would be quick,” Showalter said. “It just felt good, the progression. I think a couple days ago we knew it would be a possibility. If you say Sunday and then it’s Monday or Tuesday, then it’s a setback. I think probably three days ago we felt like the things he was doing in the cage… [gave us] a feeling it would be sooner rather than later… We’re lucky.”
Alonso admitted that the wrist, which was hit by Morton’s 97-mph fastball down in Atlanta against the Braves, felt good enough after the fifth or sixth day of his absence to return.
“My body responded well to the treatment and the rehab,” Alonso said. “I’m just really happy it responded well and able to be in the lineup again. I’m at 100% everything.”
Despite missing eight games, Alonso entered Sunday’s action still leading the National League with 22 home runs this season to go with 49 RBI, which ranks second in the NL.
His return provides an invaluable boost to a Mets lineup that has continued to struggle during an alarming first half of the 2023 campaign. With an offense that ranks 17th in the majors in runs scored per game after finishing fifth, New York’s attack has been unable to support an inefficient stable of pitching that has them closer to last place in the National League East than first.
The corresponding move to make room for Alonso on the roster was to demote Vientos back to Syracuse after being used sporadically over his one-month stint in the big leagues. The 23-year-old only received just 45 at-bats and slashed .178/.224/.244 (.469) with one home run and five RBI.
