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New York Mets: Three Pete Alonso predictions for the 2020 season

ByAllen Settle|
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 27: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets flips his bat after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a game at Citi Field on August 27, 2019 in New York City. The home run is Alonso's 42nd of the season, breaking the previous franchise record. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 27: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets flips his bat after hitting a home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a game at Citi Field on August 27, 2019 in New York City. The home run is Alonso's 42nd of the season, breaking the previous franchise record. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
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DENVER, COLORADO – SEPTEMBER 18: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 18, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Alonso finishes the season in the top three of home runs

Last season, Alonso’s 53 homers placed him at the top of the league’s leaderboard. While the polar bear’s race was aided by late-season injuries to former MVPs Mike Trout and Christian Yelich, he was able to win the homer run crowd crown with a comfortable four blast lead.

As much fun as it would be to see Alonso win back to back home run crowns, most Mets fans would happily settle for a finish anywhere near the top of the leader board. For the purpose of this article, let’s set the goal at a top-three finish. If the slugger is able to back up his historic rookie campaign with another season with totals in the mid-to-high-40’s, he will have done his part in leading the team’s offense.

This production will be vital to the team’s overall success. The Mets had a longstanding reputation as a pitching heavy team with a weak offense before Alonso’s arrival. In fact, the team ranked just 21st in home runs and 23rd in total runs scored in 2018. Fast forward one season and the team established itself as a legitimate offensive power, finishing 2019 ranked 11th in homers and 13th in runs.

To be fair, this leap in production was the result of more than one player. But it is impossible to overstate the jolt that the first baseman brought to the team. If the Mets hope to support their pitching staff by entering the conversation as a top ten offense, Alonso will need to finish among the lead leaders once again.

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