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Mets slugger Pete Alonso ties Darryl Strawberry’s rookie home run record

By James Richards

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets celebrates after scoring on Wilson Ramos #40 two-run single in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on June 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 14: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets celebrates after scoring on Wilson Ramos #40 two-run single in the seventh inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field on June 14, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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New York Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso smashed his 26th home run of the season on Saturday. In doing so, he forced the baseball record books into another update.

In the first inning of Saturday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets rookie first baseman Pete Alonso hit his 26th home run of the season. In the process, he broke one rookie record and tied another.

With this home run, Alonso broke Cody Bellinger’s record for most home runs by a rookie before the All-Star break, which was set back in 2017.

While that record is impressive in itself and showcases the talent and potential that Alonso has as a hitter, he also tied a major Mets team record in the process.

With his 26th home run of the year, Alonso also tied Darryl Strawberry‘s record for most home runs by a Mets rookie for a season, a record which has stood since 1983.

The only catch is that Strawberry accomplished this feat over the course of 122 games, hitting his 26th home run on September 28th against the Pittsburg Pirates, which was the third to last game of the 1983 season.

Alonso hit his 26th home run on June 22nd in his 76th game of the season, and has over three more months to play, so barring injury, he should break this record fairly easily, and build upon it exponentially. At his current rate, he is projected to slug 53 by the end of the 2019 season, which would more than double the Mets rookie home run record as it currently stands.

As for other home run records Alonso could potentially break, the NL record for home runs in a season by a rookie is 39, which was also set by Bellinger, and the Mets team record for home runs in a season is 41, both of which he is projected to break.

There is also the possibility of him breaking Yankee outfielder Aaron Judge‘s MLB rookie record for home runs of 52, which was set in 2017.

That one might be more of a long shot, seeing as it is contingent on Alonso maintaining his same level of production over the course of the remainder of the season, but regardless, the chase for him to break any and all of these records will be exciting to watch.

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