What should the Mets expect out of Pete Alonso in the 2023 season?

When it comes to Pete Alonso, the New York Mets are looking for a season similar to that from last season, where he crushed 40 home runs and led the major leagues with 131 RBI.

If the Mets haven't shown their perennial MVP candidate first baseman a contract extension sheet before Opening Day, Alonso will seek to increase the cost of a potential new contract. If there is anything that motivates Pete Alonso to produce this year, this is it.

NY Mets first baseman Pete Alonso will continue to produce at a high level in 2023.

Alonso's big league career has reflected the incredible raw power he brought to the team when he was a top prospect. In each of his first four seasons in the majors, Pete Alonso finished as one of the National League's top three home run hitters, and his 40 home runs in 2022 ranked second in the league behind Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies.

Another 40 home run season from the team's biggest home run threat in a generation is on tap for Alonso should he be healthy like he has been during his career.

Alonso's plate discipline has improved since his rookie season in 2019, as he has cut down his strikeout rate of 26.4 percent from four years ago to 18.7 percent last year. The work he did with hitting coach (now bench coach) Eric Chavez paid off and his big RBI total reflected that.

As a result, Alonso will enter spring training next month as a more polished hitter who lets the ball come to him instead of trying to force something.

Alonso hit .300 with runners in scoring position last season, but it will be difficult to retain that number again in 2023.

So here is a 2023 stats prediction for Pete Alonso: 664 plate appearances, .266 batting average, 41 home runs, 112 runs batted in, 91 runs scored, .882 OPS.

NY Mets first baseman Pete Alonso's defense was statistically bad last year, but there is no chance that will be the same in 2023.

The Mets must see Alonso work as the full-time first baseman. This is the first season where Alonso is the only true first baseman at spring training since his call up and there is no longer the debate about Alonso and Dominic Smith since the latter signed with Washington last week.

Perhaps Alonso being the only first base option will allow him to get all the reps in Port St. Lucie to get him back to being a comptently defensive first baseman. His -8 outs above average last season was not good. It ranked in the bottom 10 percent of all qualified fielders in baseball. It is shocking, though, as he ranked in the middle of the pack the year prior.

Regardless, in a division where the little things will probably matter in the regular season with two other World Series contenders in the National League East with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies, Alonso's defense could play a role. Knowing Alonso's mindset, there is no way he will replicate his poor outs above average output from last year.