Few Mets rookies have ever stirred the Mets fan base as much as Pete Alonso has. So far, the slugging first baseman is living up to the hype… and more. Alonso whetted appetites in ST, putting up a .352/.387/.620 line. Now that official games have arrived, Alonso is not only providing power, but he is hitting for average, fielding his position and even providing value on the basepaths.
In the first series of the year against Washington, Alonso assembled an impressive slash line of .500/.571/.750. In the three games he has three doubles, and three RBI. Admittedly, this is not just a small sample, but a micro sample of the season. Nevertheless, it is a very encouraging start for the rookie.
Alonso is demonstrating that he is following the situational hitting doctrine of new batting coach Chili Davis. He’s hitting to all fields, he’s not looking to hit a tape-measure bomb each plate appearance, and he’s hitting both righties and lefties, (with the understandable exception of Max Scherzer.) He has shown pretty good plate discipline, he’s drawn two BB already.
Defense was supposed to be his achilles heel, but to start the season he has looked fine in the field. He has played errorless ball so far, and he has displayed decent range as well. Alonso has used his 6’3” frame to good advantage in making some tough stretches at first while keeping his foot on the bag.
As to base running, he has proved to be a pleasant surprise. Alonso is certainly no burner, but it is possible to be a valuable base runner without outstanding speed. Manager Mickey Callaway has been batting Alonso in the two hole, and it is not desirable to have a slow runner clogging things up ahead of the heart of the order. However, in this series Alonso has shown he can go from first to third on a single. Plenty of players can do that that, but many, especially slugging first basemen, do not.
His signature basepath moment came in the second game of the series. Alonso was on first base when Robinson Cano hit a bullet down the first base line. Washington first baseman Ryan Zimmerman snagged the shot right as it hit the ground, and immediately stepped on first to retire the batter. Zimmerman then threw to shortstop Trea Turner for what looked like a sure double play. However, the hard-charging Alonso borrowed a page from the Eddie Stanky play book and deftly kicked the ball out of Turner’s glove to extend the rally.
So far, so good for the personable Alonso. He’s hitting on all cylinders, he’s fielding on all cylinders, and he’s even running on all cylinders.
If he keeps this up, he’ll make me forget Mike Jacobs.
okay, i already forgot mike jacobs.
In fact, I forgot mike jacobs when I was still remembering benny agbayani.
Or was it Mike Vail I forgot?
Seriously, its a really really good sign that he has gone the other way.
He seems like a guy who can adjust. Which is a big deal.
These first two weeks of production from Alonso might be critical to the Mets success. Getting off to a hot start against NL East teams would certainly boost their confidence. While we lose a year of control 6 years from now, hopefully he becomes the type of player we look to lock up and extend prior to free agency.
Mike Vail, that is a blast from the past.
It is awesome that we have a young player that came through the system that has produced at every level.
Alonso will be getting an off day tonight with Dom Smith starting at first.
Keith made reference to Alonso being as intimidating as Stanton or Judge at the plate – imagine a September lineup with Alonso, Yo, Cano, and Conforto! OK I’m getting ahead of myself…but it’s fun to dream.