Rookie Of The Year- Pete The Bat

Pete Alonso made history in a powerful Rookie season, but his actions off the field speak just as loud

- Anthony McCarron

First baseman Pete Alonso smashed a rookie-record 53 home runs, clicked with a city and its fans well beyond simply blasting moonshots, coined a slogan or two and perhaps inspired a comedy genius to reboot a classic sitcom.

Oh, and the 24-year-old also infused the Mets’ clubhouse with a sincere, caring spirit, mauled the club’s record book, made the All-Star Game, won the Home Run Derby, showed the scouting community he had been underestimated, bolstered his defense at first base and became the “Polar Bear.”

What a first season for Alonso, the unanimous selection as the Baseball America Rookie of the Year.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better rookie year,” Alonso said. “This is a fantasy come true.”

The reality, though, took hard work, scouting, player development, and the guts to make a difficult decision. First-year Mets general manager Brodie Van Wagenen could have kept Alonso at Triple-A in April to retain an extra year of contractual control in 2025, but instead, he carried Alonso on the Opening Day roster when it was obvious he had won the first base job in spring training.

The rest is Mets—and now baseball—history. “Pete had an extraordinary season,” Van Wagenen said. “More importantly, he demonstrated tremendous worth ethic and rare leadership qualities for a young player. He genuinely prioritized winning games over his historic personal pursuits. He was a big part of our team’s success in 2019 and he is part of a talented core that will impact the Mets for years to come.”

Alonso, who turns 25 in December, started the season ranked as the No. 48 prospect in baseball, a power hitter with a perhaps suspect glove. But he led the major leagues in home runs, finished third with 348 total bases, tied for third with 85 extra-base hits and was fourth with 120 RBIs.