Mets' Alonso breaks Bellinger's NL rookie record with 40th HR
Pete Alonso has set the new power standard for National League rookies.
The New York Mets first baseman slugged his 40th home run of the season Sunday, breaking Cody Bellinger's NL rookie record from just two years ago.
.@Pete_Alonso20 now has sole possession of the all-time NL rookie HR (40) record. pic.twitter.com/80ZC381xK5
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) August 18, 2019
Alonso is only the third rookie to hit 40 homers, joining Mark McGwire (49) in 1987 and Aaron Judge (52) in 2017, according to Baseball-Reference. Both McGwire and Judge won Rookie of the Year.
The blast also made Alonso just the fourth player in Mets history to reach the 40-homer mark. His next long ball will move him into a three-way tie with Todd Hundley (1996) and Carlos Beltran (2006) for the Mets' single-season record.
Pete Alonso with @JustineBWard as MVP chants rain down:
— SNY (@SNYtv) August 18, 2019
"This has been such an incredible year, I just want to keep building and helping this team win" pic.twitter.com/elSoz9xFxt
The record-setting baseball was returned to Alonso by a family that caught it. In return, the rookie gifted them a variety of signed memorabilia, according to Justin Toscano of The Record.
Bellinger, who is now a leading MVP candidate with the Los Angeles Dodgers, was quick to congratulate Alonso on surpassing his two-year-old mark.
Congrats @Pete_Alonso20 on breaking the NL rookie HR record. u a beast 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🙌🙌
— CodyBellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) August 18, 2019
Thanks mane!!! Keep doin it this year 🤙🏼
— Pete Alonso (@Pete_Alonso20) August 18, 2019
All told, the 24-year-old Alonso went 3-for-4 with a walk Sunday and is now hitting .271/.375/.604 with 95 RBIs and 76 runs scored this season.
Alonso's homer proved to be the exclamation point in the Mets' 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals. The win temporarily moved the Mets to within 1 1/2 games of the second NL wild-card spot.