Only one man has ever won the Home Run Derby three times, that being Ken Griffey Jr., but no one has gone back-to-back-to-back (and-a belly-to-belly-to-belly) like Pete Alonso is hoping to on Monday night.
The Polar Bear is getting a lot of love, especially from his teammates, as Derby predictions are leaking out from MLB All-Star Media Day…but he’s also getting love from the guy leading the world in homers?
“I hope he goes for the three-peat, that would be something special,” Aaron Judge said Monday. “He’s not just one of the best power hitters, but one of the best hitters in the game. For him to go out there and win it for the third year in a row…I like J-Rod, he might put on a show for the fans, but you can’t bet against the champ.”
Judge has 33 dingers, Alonso is fifth with 24, and Julio Rodriguez is way down the list at 16, but as we know, first-half homer totals mean almost nothing in the Derby.
And that’s why one Met is predicting Alonso to more than triple his total?
“He’s going to hit 80 or so,” Starling Marte said through an interpreter.
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That’s not out of the realm of possibility, to be honest, as long as Dave Jauss, the Mets bench coach, doesn’t have some cramps in that magic arm.
“What Alonso’s done is cool, and it’s hard to bet against him,” said Yankees closer Clay Holmes, who invoked that notion of Jauss’ BP prowess being “money” – and to finish the chain, Alonso said he has Jauss ready.
“He’s a part of my baseball family, just a great guy, and I asked him as soon as I knew I was an All-Star if he’d throw,” Alonso said, “and he’s got three pots of coffee brewing right now!”
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