Pete Alonso opens up about previous struggles amid MVP-caliber season

Earlier than first baseman Pete Alonso emerged as probably the most useful participant for a New York Mets workforce that entered Tuesday with the most effective document within the Nationwide League (42-24), he endured loads of lows throughout the earlier two seasons. 

Throughout a current dialog with Laura Albanese of Newsday, Alonso opened up about what went improper for him throughout some plate appearances in 2023 and 2024. 

“After 2023 and in 2024, I didn’t essentially really feel like myself,” Alonso admitted. “I used to be type of teeter-tottering all 12 months…I need to have the ability to really feel like myself on a constant foundation. I don’t wish to undergo instances the place I’m attempting to determine it out, the place I don’t one hundred pc really feel like I wish to really feel [regardless] of the outcomes. I wish to really feel good. I wish to really feel assured in my sport plan. A whole lot of laborious work has gone into working and holding on to good mechanics.”

Alonso reportedly rejected
a seven-year, $158M contract extension supply from the Mets through the 2023 season. Whereas he ended that marketing campaign with 46 house runs and 118 RBI, he additionally hit simply .217. He then slashed .240/.329/.459 with a .788 OPS, 34 homers and 88 RBI over 162 regular-season video games earlier than he reached free company final 12 months. 

Alonso turned 30 years previous this previous December and located all through the offseason that the marketplace for his providers wasn’t as strong as he had hoped. In the long run, he signed a two-year, $54M contract with a participant opt-out after this season to stick with the Mets. 

Together with making tweaks concerning his physique place contained in the batter’s field, Alonso has additionally used added analysis to assist him discover success all through this spring. Per ESPN stats, the “Polar Bear” started Tuesday main all of MLB with 61 RBI on the season. Over his first 66 video games of the marketing campaign, he slashed .301/.396/.594. with a .990 OPS and 17 house runs. 

“It’s trusting my learning…trusting my swing and staying constant in my mechanics [and] the effectivity of my mechanics,” Alonso stated. “The mechanics in previous years weren’t essentially as clear. There was a variety of wasted motion.” 

Honest or not, the notion existed that Alonso pressed
on the plate all through 2024 for causes associated to uncertainty about his future. He may quickly face a unique sort of stress if he stays scorching and the Mets keep atop the NL standings via the All-Star break. As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had Alonso seventh among the many betting favorites at +3000 odds to assert the NL Most Helpful Participant Award for this season. 

Alonso sounds able to struggle off the kind of swoon that impacted him final summer time. 

“I undoubtedly really feel comfy, however on the identical time, you’ll be able to’t actually really feel too comfy as a result of consolation builds complacency,” Alonso added. “For me, [the key] undoubtedly has been being extra ready, being extra self-aware of myself and my swing and my skill. I undoubtedly assume that’s the maturation course of within the huge leagues.”

Alonso and the Mets open a three-game house collection versus the Washington Nationals (30-35) on Tuesday night.