N.Y. Mets: Pete Alonso Breaks National League Rookie Home Run Record

From the desk of:  HEAD-BUTTING MR. MET

NATIONAL LEAGUE

established 1876

The Polar Bear Hits Dinger Number Forty; Sets New National League Rookie Home Run Record.

... with eleven games still left to play in August!

Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hits his 40th home run of the season breaking the National League rookie record.  The milestone comes in his final at-bat of Sunday afternoon's 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in which Alonso goes 3 for 4 with a double, the aforementioned home run, three runs scored, and two runs batted in.

Previous record holder Cody Bellinger in 2017 hit 39 home runs through 132 games and 480 at-bats. Pete Alonso first ties the N.L. record in just his 120th game of the season through 511 plate appearances and 435 official at-bats.  He then breaks the record in just 122 games, and 443 official at-bats.

With the National League record in hand, Alonso becomes one of only three rookies to ever achieve 40 home runs in a season (Mark McGwire, Aaron Judge).  Alonso is now one home run away from tying the Mets all-time mark of 41 home runs shared by Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran.  After which come Aaron Judge.  The New York Yankees right fielder set the major league rookie record in the same season Bellinger set the National League mark with 52 home runs in 155 games with 678 plate appearances and 542 official at-bats.  Alonso needs 13 home runs in the next 38 games in order to surpass Judge.

• APRIL: Pete Alonso hits his first MLB home run in just his fourth game played; finishes month with eight.

• MAY: Hits ten home runs giving him 19 for the season.

• JUNE: Pete breaks the club's 36-year old club rookie record of 26 home runs set in 1983 by Darryl Strawberry.  Alonso's record breaking dinger comes in only his 77th game and 279th at-bat of the season.  Whereas Darryl Strawberry in 1983 played in 122 games with 420 at-bats.

• JULY: Pete Alonso breaks Darryl Strawberry's rookie record of 74 RBI.  Alonso's 30th home run ties him with Dave Kingman for most ever home runs before the All-Star break.  He then he goes on to win the All-Star Game home run derby.

• AUGUST: Homers in four consecutive games (Aug. 5-9).  Six home runs through 17 games this month.  Season high six RBI vs. Atlanta Braves (Aug. 15).  He is presently slugging .604 with a .979 OPS and 95 RBI.  He also becomes the fourth ever Met to achieve 40 home runs.

I've said this before.  We're talking about a rookie, and therefore I'm most impressed with his adaptability and ability to roll with adjustments being made against him.

Oh, yeah  ...

With Sunday's series clinching win at Kansas City, the Mets remain two games out of a wild card.