NY Mets slugger Pete Alonso is batting .349 but that’s not what’s most impressive

Whatever your favorite baseball statistic site is, Pete Alonso’s numbers pop. Bold, shaded red, or whichever other way they choose to make note of how gaudy the numerals are, the New York Mets slugging first baseman is on an elite-level tear through 36 games. He’s a big reason why the team sits atop the NL East.

There are a ton of impressive totals Alonso is lugging around with him from game-to-game. His thunderous bat is making noise. Impressively, so is his eye.

Alonso owns the single-season Mets strikeout record. A quality of many power hitters, he has managed to cut down on the Ks in some recent seasons. The strikeout numbers have dropped more significantly this year all the while improving his walk rate.

Pete Alonso has never been such a complete hitter even when all he's doing is watching balls go by

Let’s talk percentages. A previous low of 18.7% strikeouts with a career total of 22.5%, he’s down to 15.4%. The walk total is at 16%, up from the high during his rookie season in 2019 of 10.4%. The league has averaged 8.5% during this time.

Alonso has always been better than average when it comes to drawing a walk and slightly better at strikeouts. What he has never done is finish a season with more base on balls than punch outs. Right now, he has one more walk (25) than strikeouts (24).

It’s an impressive trend that’s hard to imagine continuing on. Only the most extraordinary hitters these days can walk more than they strikeout. What about Alonso’s year hasn’t been beyond expectation, though?

The lack of danger present in the Mets lineup behind Alonso is giving pitchers less of a reason to throw him anything good to hit. No matter. He’s doing fine. His chase percentage is at a career-low 24.4% with the chase contact at a best of 65.9%. When he is chasing the ball, he’s at least being productive. It shows in the opposite field batted balls results which are at a personal best 29.4%.

Selective yet productive, Alonso has had a different approach this season. He looks more comfortable at the plate. Less distracted perhaps? When a player about to enter free agency plays to any extreme, his future is often cited as the explanation behind it. So what’s going on this year with Alonso essentially submitting his free agent application yet again? Whatever it is, make sure you get a refill.