Pete Alonso stands alone as the Mets home run king, blasting the 253rd of his career on Tuesday night to surpass Darryl Strawberry on the all-time list.
The Mets slugger launched No. 254 later in the game for good measure, capping off an unforgettable night that became a celebration of the lifelong Met’s career, which began by setting the league’s rookie home run record back in 2019.
It also provided a question to Alonso’s future in Queens, as the first baseman can opt out of his deal after this season, an outcome that seems likelier by the day given the season Alonso is having. Asked about the future after the game, Alonso made it clear where he wants to be for the long term.
“I love the city of New York. I love this fanbase,” Alonso said, via SNY. “It's been great. But again, the business is the business side, if they choose to go in another direction. For me, it's been an absolute treat and pleasure here. This group is really special…it was one of the biggest reasons I came back.
“We just have an incredible group here that has a great purpose and it’s been great playing here, I hope it doesn’t end.”
Negotiations during Alonso’s free agency last winter were not smooth by any means, as team owner Steve Cohen publicly lamented the nature of the negotiations before the two sides finally agreed on a $30 million deal with a player option for 2026. The homegrown Met could be back in the same spot after this season, only now has endeared himself to the fans even more after setting the new franchise home run record while enjoying a resurgent season at the plate.
Asked how many home runs he believed he could finish with if he remained a Met long term, Alonso again teased his desire to remain in Queens.
“There's only one way to find out,” Alonso said with a smile.