In an impressive display of power, Pete Alonso hit a pair of homers on Sunday, bringing him within three home runs of the major league lead. Currently, that honor is shared by Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Matt Olson of Atlanta, who have each hit 44 home runs this season. An AL scout commented on Alonso’s chances of clinching the home run title, expressing uncertainty but acknowledging that it wouldn’t be surprising if he did. The scout also noted that Alonso’s injury earlier in the season hindered his progress, stating that he would have achieved even greater success if not for that setback. Alonso was sidelined for 10 days in June due to a bone bruise and sprain in his left wrist, but made a triumphant return sooner than expected.
Since his return, Alonso’s performance has remained strong, with an OPS of .835, only a slight drop from his pre-injury .872 OPS. The scout commended Alonso’s resilience and growth this year, acknowledging his ability to bounce back from adversity. Despite Alonso’s impending free agency after next season, he has expressed his desire to remain with the New York Mets. Francisco Lindor, who is signed with the Mets until 2031, shared his hopes that a deal would be reached to keep Alonso in Queens.
This season has been an intriguing one for Alonso, as he is on track to finish with the lowest batting average of his career at .225. However, his power numbers remain historically impressive, as he has hit 40 home runs for the third time in his career. It is worth noting that if the 2020 season had not been cut short by the COVID pandemic, Alonso likely would have reached this milestone four times. Additionally, scouts have observed changes in Alonso’s approach at the plate, which they believe will make him a better hitter in the future. He has become more selective in his pitch selection, a shift that could lead to increased success and a higher average.
Analyzing the statistics, Fangraphs suggests that Alonso has been somewhat unlucky this season, indicating an expected batting average of .252, more in line with his career average of .254. Furthermore, Alonso has exhibited a more disciplined approach, swinging at fewer pitches both inside and outside the strike zone compared to previous seasons. His increased fly ball percentage (46.4% compared to his career average of 43.6%) indicates that his home run prowess is sustainable in the long run. With a home run rate of 7.5%, the highest since his rookie year, Alonso continues to showcase his power.
Unfortunately, barring a significant turnaround, it is likely that Alonso will miss the postseason once again, as he has in all but one year of his career (2022). However, his contributions to the Mets and his potential for future success remain undeniable.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
