Pete Alonso’s recent struggles at the plate can no longer be brushed off as a temporary slump. The star first baseman is currently experiencing the worst statistical season of his five-year career in the MLB. Not only are his numbers down across the board, but he’s also in the midst of a rough 1-for-18 stretch that mirrors his poor performance over the last three months.
“It’s frustrating, no doubt. Especially when you have a great at-bat and make solid contact,” Alonso expressed after going 1-for-3 in the Mets’ 5-1 loss to the Dodgers at Citi Field. “As a hitter, you wish you could wave a magic wand and guarantee hits, but unfortunately, baseball doesn’t work that way.”
Alonso managed a single in his first trip to the plate but failed to make an impact in his subsequent attempts. In the seventh inning, he grounded into a double play, and in the eighth, his throw on what could have been an inning-ending double play was too high, resulting in the go-ahead run for the opposition.
“I just slightly overthrew it, and that split-second cost us the double play,” he admitted. “But I stand by my decision to throw to second. I just wish I could have executed it better.”
It’s evident that Alonso hasn’t been the same player since sustaining a bone bruise and sprain in his left wrist, even though he refuses to use it as an excuse. However, it’s worth noting that his struggles began before getting hit on the left wrist by a pitch from Charlie Morton on June 7.
Over the past 63 games since April 22, Alonso has posted a batting line of .178/.286/.427. Since May 30, his OPS has plummeted to a dismal .593, and he’s batting a measly .143 as of Saturday.
“The expectations are high because of how great Pete has been. He’s clearly putting pressure on himself,” commented manager Buck Showalter. “I’m hoping the game will eventually turn in his favor. There was a period of about two weeks where he was hitting the ball hard consistently, even though his average was declining.”
Overall, Alonso’s slash line of .210/.310/.490 would be career-lows, as would his .800 OPS. Throughout July, he’s gone 5-for-38 at the plate.
Despite his struggles, Alonso did make headlines as a surprise selection for the All-Star Game and participated in the Home Run Derby. He currently ranks second in the National League with 26 home runs, trailing only Matt Olson of the Braves. This stands as the lone positive aspect amidst Alonso’s otherwise rocky season.
While the Mets have faced numerous issues in what can only be described as a disappointing season, most attention has been directed towards their struggling pitching staff, from underwhelming performances by Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander to a thin bullpen.
Alonso’s struggles have largely flown under the radar, but as his slump continues, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. The cleanup hitter for the Mets is desperately searching for a way to break out of this extended funk.
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