1 random Pete Alonso statistic sitting at a big fat 0 and it doesn’t make any sense

Pete Alonso and his 35 home runs haven't surprised anyone. Even in a down season for the New York Mets slugger, he’s hitting the ball a long way with regularity.

The Mets will face the Atlanta Braves this weekend with Alonso hoping to add to his home run total to catch up to Matt Olson. It’s a weekend to see some balls fly a long way. We may even see some intentional walks as pitchers try to work around these sluggers. Or will we?

Through 449 plate appearances, Alonso has yet to draw an intentional walk. It’s somewhat curious considering he hasn’t had any great protection behind him in the lineup all year. He led the National league with 16 free passes last season. This year he’s at a goose egg.

How has NY Mets slugger Pete Alonso gone this long without an intentional walk?

Alonso’s walk rate is at a career-low 9.1% heading into Friday’s game. It’s nothing significant. He was at 9.4% in 2021 and 9.8% in 2022. Only a small number of intentional walks would push him much closer to the norm.

Everything about Alonso’s season has been funky. Despite the 35 home runs and 87 RBI, he’s slashing only .227/.321/.533. He has 11 doubles and even managed to leg out a pair of triples. Of his 89 hits, more than half (48) are for extra bases. It’s a nice homage to Mark McGwire.

Alonso still has an opportunity to lead the league in homers before the season is through. An intentional walk seems inevitable. Against the Braves this weekend, with them still competing for home-field advantage, throwing their hands up in the air and dealing with whoever hits behind Alonso is something to expect.

Has a player managed to lead the league in home runs without an intentional walk?

In 1927, Babe Ruth hit 60 home runs and was intentionally walked only 3 times. When those 60 home runs were broken in 1961 by Roger Maris when he hit 61, the New York Yankees outfielder wasn’t intentionally walked once all year.

Alonso won’t get to 61 but maybe he leads the league and any of the walks he has for the rest of the year come because of bad control and not because the situation calls for it.