Mets slugger Pete Alonso climbing up the franchise’s home run chart

Pete Alonso is breaking single-season records for the New York Mets this year. He’s also climbing up the franchise’s all-time home run list.

New York Mets rookie slugger Pete Alonso already has 50 home runs this season (and counting!). He owns the National League rookie record, the Mets single-season record, and is quickly climbing up the organization’s all-time list.

At 50 dingers, Alonso is alone in 42nd place all-time in Mets history. Having recently taken down Travis d’Arnaud and his 47 home runs in 43rd place, Alonso next takes aim at Bernard Gilkey and the Mets original home run champion, Frank Thomas, who each finished their time with the blue and orange with 52.

Smacking 52 home runs this year is notable for Alonso because it would also tie him for the rookie record held by fellow New York athlete, Aaron Judge. The New York Yankees outfielder slugged his way to 52 back in 2017.

Unfortunately for Judge, due to injury, he has only hit a combined 52 home runs in the two years since.

Home run hitters and the Metropolitans haven’t paired incredibly well. The franchise has only ever had three men finish the season with the most in the National League. The last man to do it was Howard Johnson back in 1991 when he swatted 38.

Only 14 men in Mets history have ever reached triple-digit home runs. Most recently, Michael Conforto passed number 100 earlier this season. Until Alonso arrived, he looked like the most likely man to break the single-season record held by Carlos Beltran and Todd Hundley. With Pete in town, it’s possible he goes for the franchise record over the next few seasons.

Alonso is already nearly one-fifth of the way there. Darryl Strawberry’s 252 trips around the base for the Mets is the most by any player. David Wright isn’t far behind at 242.

For the Mets, the problem has been a lack of developing sluggers. Strawberry and Wright came up through the system, but many of their most notable home run hitters came via free agency or trade.

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In every way, Alonso looks like an exception to the norm. He’s a homegrown player and a true home run hitter. When it’s all over with, there’s a good chance Alonso goes down as the one and only Mets home run king.