NY Mets will never have another rookie season like this again

When Lucas Duda was traded at the 2017 deadline, the New York Mets did not have a long term solution at 1B. The 2018 team had 4 players play 20+ games at 1B: Wilmer Flores (83), Adrian Gonzalez (48), Dominic Smith (28), and Jay Bruce (21). The mediocrity at 1B is one of the reasons why the Mets did not find any success in 2018, despite having Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom. 

Going into the 2019 season, Mets fans were desperately looking for hope. And what they got was a Polar Bear. 

Pete Alonso, the Mets second round pick in the 2016 Draft and widely considered their best prospect going into the 2018 offseason, made newly hired GM Brodie Van Wagenen’s Opening Day roster as the Mets starting 1B. 

Finally, the Mets had a potential long term solution to 1B with the 24-year old Alonso, who earned the nickname “Polar Bear” from 3B coach Gary DiSarcina for his raw power.

"I guess so, yeah. I'll embrace it," Alonso said of his new nickname.

Pete Alonso's rookie season will always be considered the best rookie hitting season in Mets history.

The newly minted Polar Bear wasted no time- Alonso immediately was a star. Alonso became the first player in modern MLB history (since 1900) to record 11 extra base hits over the first 10 games of his career, per the Elias Sports Bureau. 

Alonso finished April with 9 HR, the most amongst rookies and tied for the most HR by a Mets player before May 1, joining Neil Walker (2016), John Buck (2013), Carlos Delgado (2006), and Dave Kingman (1976).

By June 22, Alonso hit his 26th HR, breaking the National League record for most HR by a rookie before the All-Star break. The next day, Alonso’s 27th HR broke Darryl Strawberry’s Mets rookie HR record, and it wasn’t even July yet.

It seemed like Alonso was breaking new records daily, and made the All-Star team as a reserve. Alonso was invited to participate in the 2019 Home Run Derby, and finally got to show off his Polar Power to a national audience. 

“It’s going to be a blast, a dream come true,” Alonso said.

Alonso was pitched to by Derek Morgan, his second cousin and former college baseball player. Alonso got off to a slow start but just beat out Cleveland's hometown Carlos Santana 14-13 in the first round.

Facing 19 HR from Ronald Acuna Jr. in the second round, the Polar Bear was down by 2 HR with 6 seconds left. After Alonso ties Acuna Jr. with 19, he quickly motions to Derek to throw another pitch. With the clock expiring, Alonso hits his 20 HR to advance and face Vlad Guerrero Jr. in the finals.

Alonso captivated the baseball world by beating out Vladdy Jr. 23-22 in the finals to win the Home Run Derby. Alonso became the first Mets player to be the sole winner of the Home Run Derby, and the first Mets player to participate since David Wright lost in the 2006 finals.

During the second half, all Mets fans could talk about was Pete Alonso. There was excited speculation over if Alonso could break Aaron Judge’s rookie HR record of 52 big ones. Every HR was a thrill that made it closer to reality.

On August 18, Alonso hit his 40th HR, breaking Cody Bellinger’s NL rookie HR record. On August 27, Alonso hit his 42nd HR, breaking Carlos Beltran and Todd Hundley’s Mets single season HR record. With more than a month to go, Alonso already had the best power hitting season in Mets history.

Alonso hit 11 HR in the month of September, finishing the season with 53 HR and breaking Aaron Judge’s rookie record. Mets fans basked in the glory of upstaging the crosstown Yankees star, a rare feat for Metsdom. Alonso was our guy, a star who genuinely rivaled Aaron Judge’s power.

While the Mets fell short of the playoffs, Alonso brought fun to Mets baseball. Alonso won the 2019 Rookie of the Year, and finished 7th in MVP voting.

Pete Alonso's 2019 rookie season was the finest power-hitting season in Mets history, and the best power-hitting season in rookie history. The Polar Bear had a season that probably will never be replicated by a Mets rookie ever again.