Exciting NY Mets replacement for Pete Alonso wasted no time making his case stronger

Life without Pete Alonso doesn't have to be so hard for the Mets, especially with dingers like this.
New York Mets v Miami Marlins
New York Mets v Miami Marlins | Calvin Hernandez/GettyImages

Pete Alonso was frank about his New York Mets future on Sunday. He’s opting out. The worst kept secret in MLB history since it was revealed that Lefty Gomez threw left-handed, the decision puts the Mets on notice to start thinking about where he fits in as well as who else is out there.

Wasting no time whatsoever, one of the more exciting options to replace Alonso had a home run that looks like it belongs in a video game where a line drive turns into fire.

Munetaka Murakami is a name Mets fans will need to familiarize themselves with this winter

As Jon Morosi had no qualms reminding us, the Mets have already scouted Munetaka Murakami. David Stearns’ trip to Japan was all about getting a glance at the 25-year-old lefty.

It has been a mostly lost year for Murakami who had elbow surgery last December. Just over 200 plate appearances into a season that’s winding down, he has delivered in the power department with the 21 home runs thus far. Had he been healthy, he would have blown past the 33 he had just last season.

Murakami’s biggest power season came in 2022 when he blasted 56 dingers at age 22. He’s a natural slugger whose career has spent mostly at third base. The Mets know better than to suit him up anywhere but at first base and maybe DH.

When it comes to replacing Alonso, the one downside to Murakami is swinging from the left side of the plate. Juan Soto already does. Brandon Nimmo as well. It’s Francisco Lindor’s more common and stronger side as well. Hitting lefties was a problem for the Mets this past year. Alonso was guilty of it, too, despite being their top righty in the order.

The transition to MLB doesn’t always work out so well, Kaz Matsui being a name Mets fans know well. There’s no formula to adjust statistics to translate how a particular player will do. Murakami’s massive power and age is what will have far more than the Mets in pursuit. Let’s hope he’s no fan of Southern California. The Los Angeles Dodgers have cornered the market in his home country.