New York Mets: How special was Pete Alonso’s rookie year? Pretty special

Jul 8, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) in the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Mets almost didn’t take rookie first baseman Pete Alonso north with them after spring training in March. He was too green defensively, they said. He needed more seasoning in the minors.

Many thought after a monster spring training, Alonso was a lock to make the Mets’ 25-man roster. But there were other issues in bringing him up besides his suspect defense. The Mets didn’t want his MLB service clock ticking yet. If they kept him in the minors to start the season, they would gain an additional season of control on the back end.

General manager Brodie Van Wagenen, also in his first season with the Mets, decided to trust his best judgement and green lighted Alonso’s debut. The “Polar Bear” as Alonso would become to be known, hit .352 with four homers in the spring. He swatted his way to Flushing.

“When players perform and earn opportunities, we as an industry and certainly the New York Mets, will reward those players for those performances,” Van Wagenen said in March. “[Alonso] showed us and certainly showed his teammates he was one of those 25 guys. He earned it. …The guys that earned it are here, and I’m happy for them.”

Alonso ‘s defense at first base never became an issue. He made just 12 errors in 1,202 chances. His bat, on the other hand, terrorized pitchers across baseball.

In 2019, Alonso set the Mets single-season record for homers (53), total bases (347) and extra base-hits (85)…In addition, Alonso has set the franchise single season rookie records for RBI (120), runs (102) and hits (154). He also tied the club rookie record with 72 walks and tied for fourth among all Mets rookies with 30 doubles.

Alonso’s 53 home runs were the most by a rookie in MLB history, breaking Aaron Judge’s record of 52 in 2017.

No rookie in baseball’s “modern era” (1900) has finished a season as the majors’ outright leader in homers. Two rookies since 1900 tied for the most home runs in a season: Tim Jordan for Brooklyn in 1906 (12 homers) and Mark McGwire with Oakland in 1987 (49). Alonso also became the first Met to ever lead the league in HRs at the end of the season.

Alonso hit 27 home runs at Citi Field this year, the most home runs at home in team history, surpassing Darryl Strawberry, who hit 24 home runs at Shea Stadium in 1990. To show he wa son fluke, Alonso hit 26 HRs on the road…

The Polar Bear became the eighth player in franchise history with a 100+ run/100+ RBI season, only the 12th time in franchise history and the first since Davis Wright (115 R & 124 RBI) and Carlos Beltrán (112 R & 116 RBI) did so in 2008. Alonso is the first Mets rookie to record a 100+ run and 100+ RBI season.

He also won the Home Run Derby at the All-Star Game, setting new record (23) for HRs in the final round.

Alonso’s 120 RBI tied him with Robin Ventura (120 RBI in 1999) for the third- most in team history. Only Mike Piazza (124 RBI in 1999) and David Wright (124 RBI in 2008) have driven in more runs in a single season.

The Mets got an instant shot in the arm from Alonso, an outgoing, fan-centric, media-friendly personality with a powerful bat to match.  His future – and that of the Mets’ – appears to be on the upswing. The Mets were in dire need of a home-grown star and Alonso is shining as bright as any right right now.