NY Mets: Handing out some 2021 midseason player awards

Silver Slugger – 1B Pete Alonso

Is it surprising that first baseman Pete Alonso has been the Mets best bat this season? Maybe not. What is surprising though is the reasoning behind it.

Entering the season, the Mets appeared to have one of the best offenses in baseball on paper. That is what happens when Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo, and J.D. Davis is joined by Francisco Lindor and James McCann.

This is a lineup that was supposed to be bashing balls into the stands, at posting at least for runs per game. Whereas at the halfway point, the team is 25th in OPS, tied 26th in home runs, and dead last in hits and total bases.

The reality is that the Mets offense has been abysmal in the first half. Then again, players like Alonso have been showing signs of life of late.

He may trail Lindor in offensive WAR, but the Polar Bear has been the most productive offensive player throughout the first half. Despite a stint on the injured list, Alonso has clobbered 17 home runs on the year to go with 49 runs batted in on a .250 average.

More importantly, as the lineup has gotten healthy again over the past two weeks, Alonso has begun to bash more and more. Having Alonso’s pop in the lineup back at full strength is huge, especially considering the lack of homers the team has hit this season.

No, the offense has not performed anywhere near the level that it is capable of. But if Alonso continues to be the reliable hitter in the lineup after competing in the 2021 MLB Home Run Derby, he will end up having the best offensive season on the team.