The Metropolitan’s 2016 second-round pick Pete Alonso is off to a very nice start down in Port St. Lucie as the Mets continue their Spring Training warm-up before heading north for Opening Day.
After a disappointing 2020 season, Pete the “Polar Bear” Alonso is showing signs of his 2019 NL Rookie of the Year self.
Last season, Alonso had a batting average of .231 which was a significant drop from his .260 average in 2019. At times, Pete looked completely flustered at the plate finishing the 2020 campaign with more strikeouts than hits on the season.
Alonso also struggled in the slugging department finishing the shortened season with a .490 slugging percentage and only 16 home runs. In the 2019 campaign, the Polar Bear crushed 53 home runs and had a slugging percentage of .583.
This spring, Pete has shown the signs of being the leader and teammate the Mets need heading into the regular season. He has impressed at the plate halfway through the Spring Training tilt.
The Polar Bear is currently hitting .407 with a team-leading ten RBI’s. Alonso has also had his power on display hitting three home runs and four doubles.
The slugger is not only packing a punch this spring but is also showing patience at the plate earning five walks in his twenty-seven total at-bats. Not a bad start for someone who was at risk of losing his job to Dominic Smith last season. Pete has definitely felt the pressure from a below-average campaign last season and is looking to be the one applying the pressure on opposing pitching this season.
Photo: Wendell Cruz/USA TODAY Sports“Polar Bear” Pete has not only put his play on display this spring, but he has also shown signs of leadership with his personality. This past Sunday Luis Guillorme was battling at the plate in what would turn into a twenty-two pitch at-bat. And who was the first player standing up outside of the dugout getting the bench’s attention as to what was going on at the plate?
Yup that’s right you guessed it, Alonso had the whole bench up and alert within the first 8 pitches of the long at-bat.
The bench became a driving force-feeding Guillorme with the encouragement needed to win the elongated battle at the plate.
Luis ended up earning a walk when the 22nd pitch of the at-bat was low and outside of the strike zone.
The Mets completed defensive drills and pretend like they won Game 7 of the World Series ?? pic.twitter.com/vazIkWa8yi
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 10, 2021
This was not the only sign of Alonso’s personality on display this past week. Pete, along with a few other Mets, ere the inspiration behind ending infield and outfield practice with a fake world series-clinching team celebration.
Although this seems a little premature and possibly even bad luck, It was a positive sign to see the team bonding and having fun before heading north for the start of the season.
“Polar Bear” Pete Alonso will look to continue his stellar Spring Training start and hopefully carry it into Opening Day with him when the Mets face off against the Nationals in the nation’s capital on April first.
Featured Image: Wendell Cruz/USA TODAY Sports
