Pete Alonso Calls on Mets Brass to ‘Come Through’ After Breaking Home Run Record

Pete Alonso has already immortalized himself in New York Mets lore by breaking Darryl Strawberry’s franchise record for home runs. But how much higher can he climb?

That may ultimately depend on Alonso’s willingness to stay in New York.

Alonso re-signed on a two-year, $54 million deal in free agency last offseason. However, the deal allows Alonso, 30, to opt-out after this year, and he’s made no secret of wanting to hit the open market once more in hopes of a bigger payday.

The Mets star spoke about his uncertain future following Tuesday’s 13-5 win over the Atlanta Braves in which he homered twice, including the record-breaking 253rd of his career.

“I have a goal to play baseball until I’m through my age 40 season, and for me, I’m going to work hard and do that,” Alonso said, via the New York Daily News. “The business side — (owner) Steve (Cohen) and (president of baseball operations) David (Stearns), they’ve got to come through.”

Who is the Mets All-Time Home Run Leader?

Alonso became the Mets’ new home run king with a two-run shot in the third inning off Spencer Strider that traveled 394 feet and landed in the visitor’s bullpen. He homered again in the sixth, capping a three-hit, three-RBI game as the Mets (64-55) snapped their seven-game losing streak and won for just the second time this month.

Strawberry’s record of 252 had stood since 1990, surviving nearly four decades in large part because of the franchise’s inability to cultivate homegrown sluggers. The biggest exception was David Wright, whose career was curtailed by back, neck and shoulder injuries. Wright retired in 2018 with 242 career home runs.

Alonso, nicknamed the Polar Bear, has been one of baseball’s biggest power threats since he burst into the big leagues with a rookie-record 53 home runs in 2019. To put it into perspective, Alonso is just one of 10 players in MLB history to hit 30-plus homers in five of his first six seasons, a group that includes five Hall of Famers (Ralph Kiner, Eddie Mathews, Frank Robinson, Ted Williams, Joe DiMaggio) and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer (Albert Pujols).

Alonso leads the Mets this season with 28 home runs, 96 RBI and an .880 OPS. He appeared in his fifth All-Star Game last month, bashing a three-run homer off Royals left-hander Kris Bubic.

What is Everyone Saying About the Mets’ Record?

Strawberry was among the first to congratulate Alonso on breaking the franchise record for home runs.

“Listen, you have worked hard, you have stood up in the pressure of New York City and you have played well,” Strawberry said in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the Mets. “It is well-deserved. You are a homegrown player.

“Again, congratulations, and continue to have great success. All the best, buddy.”

Alonso called it “really special.”

“As a kid, you don’t really think that it’s in the realm of possibility to be a franchise home run leader,” he said. “It’s a wild dream, to be honest.”

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