All-Star Alonso set to go for third HR Derby crown

It explains why Alonso was named to the National League squad for the 2023 All-Star Game, which is able to happen on July 11 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. This will probably be Alonso’s third look within the Midsummer Classic.

“It’s awesome. It’s a super high honor. I’m excited to represent the Mets in Seattle,” Alonso mentioned.

Shortly after supervisor Buck Showalter gave Alonso the information concerning the invitation on Sunday afternoon, Alonso introduced on ESPN in the course of the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast that he’ll take part within the T-Mobile Home Run Derby and go for his third crown. He is becoming a member of Randy Arozarena, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Julio Rodríguez on the listing of sluggers who’ve mentioned they are going to take part within the Derby to date.

“It’s a really fun event,” Alonso mentioned. “The field is extremely talented. I think this is going to be a Derby that a lot of people are going to remember for a long time.”

This will probably be Alonso’s fourth Derby in his 5 years within the huge leagues, profitable the competition in 2019 and ‘21. Alonso has the prospect to hitch Ken Griffey Jr. as the one three-time winners.

Alonso’s mentor and baseball coach, Mike Friedland, will pitch to Alonso on the Derby. When he was a young person, Alonso promised that Friedland would sooner or later take part with him in such an occasion.

“When I was a kid, I made a promise to him when he was throwing me batting practice,” Alonso mentioned. “It’s a type of issues while you’re a child and also you type of daydream and want one thing would occur. Now that it is right here, I wish to preserve good on my promise. I’m actually excited. I do know Mike is happy, too.”  

Showalter believes the information comes on the proper time for Alonso, who had a foul month of June, going 10-for-66 (.152). He went 1-for-3 on Saturday, however made a key throwing error that allowed a run to attain in opposition to the Giants.

“I hate to see good people beat themselves up,” Showalter mentioned. “But I think it is good timing for him to be reminded how good of a player he is. I think he is one of the league leaders in unluckiness, so to speak. Pete is as real as it gets.”

In the primary Derby in 2019, Alonso turned the second rookie to win it since Aaron Judge in ‘17, and the primary Met to be an outright winner of the competition by defeating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. within the finals; Darryl Strawberry shared the title with Wally Joyner in 1986.

Two years later, Alonso defeated the Orioles’ Trey Mancini within the finals. He turned the fourth participant to win the Derby twice and the third to win back-to-back titles (All-Star festivities have been canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic). The final participant to win Home Run Derby titles in consecutive years was Yoenis Cespedes in ‘13 and ‘14.

Alonso, 28, is taking part in his fifth MLB season, and he has already completed rather a lot. He ranks fifth on the Mets’ all-time listing in residence runs with 171 and he is twelfth in franchise historical past with 438 RBIs.

Last yr, Alonso set a membership report with 131 RBIs and have become the primary Met to report two 40-plus-homer seasons. Let’s not neglect that he gained the 2019 National League Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award, incomes 29 of 30 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. That yr, he set a rookie report, hitting 53 residence runs.

“I’m super proud. As cool as it is, this game is not easy,” Alonso mentioned. “It’s a really tough game. I’m just really happy to perform at a high level. It’s been really awesome to be able to perform, find success and be an All-Star three out of the last five years. It’s one of the high honors that I’m really proud of that I was able to accomplish in my career.”