Polar Bear Power In Queens

Polar Bear power is taking over in Queens. Pete Alonso has been crushing the baseball at an alarming pace this season. He's already set the National League record for home runs in a season by a rookie. By the time the season comes to an end, Pete has a chance to set the Major League rookie record for homers. He's going to do it one swing at a time.

His home run against the Royals on Sunday was a majestic, record setting shot:


Even though he hasn't been hitting them near the same pace he did in the first half of the year, the fact that Alonso has 40 is an eye popping umber.

It has set a couple of records. Its the most by a rookie in the National League, and the 3rd most ever by a rookie in the history of the game. The only two rookies who have hit more than Alonso in a year were Mark McGuire of the Athletics with 49 in 1987 and Aaron Judge of the Yankees with 52 in 2017. The National League record had been 39 home runs by Cody Bellinger two years ago. Bellinger even congratulated Alonso over twitter after his home run.

This also joined Alonso in some pretty elite company within the Mets. He becomes only the 4th player in a Mets uniform to hit 40 or more in a season. He joins Todd Hundley (41 in 1196), Mike Piazza (40 in 1999) and Carlos Beltran (41 in 2006).

With some of the great hitters that this Mets organization have had, its a shock that Alonso is only the 4th in a Mets uniform to ever reach that number. He shouldn't have a problem passing Beltran and Hundley for the team record and I wouldn't be surprised if he becomes the first Mets player ever to reach the magical 50 mark.

So congrats to Pete Alonso for becoming the first NL Rookie and only the 40 Mets player to crack 40 or more home runs in a season!