ARLINGTON -- Pete Alonso wasn’t able to add a third Home Run Derby title to his résumé on Monday night, but after coming up short for the third straight year, the Mets slugger isn’t ready to give up on that goal.

Alonso was eliminated in the first round of the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Globe Life Field, hitting only 12 home runs to finish seventh out of the eight competitors.

Alonso’s early exit left Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. as the only player to win the Derby three times (1994, 1998-99).

“Obviously, I didn't put my best foot forward today,” Alonso said. “It’s disappointing, but for me, it's a blessing and it's just so fun being out here. I'm out there competing, but at the end of the day, it wasn't my day.”

Alonso had already made history just by signing up for the event, becoming the first player to participate in five straight competitions. Alonso came in as the only former winner in Monday’s field, having slugged his way to the title in both 2019 (Cleveland) and 2021 (Colorado) to become just the third back-to-back champion (there was no event in 2020 because of the COVID pandemic) in Derby history.

“This is just an event that I've really admired since I was a kid,” Alonso said. “I'm basically doing it for my 7- or 8-year-old self.”

The slugger launched a 428-foot home run on his first swing, but when he called his timeout with 1:37 remaining, he had only five homers on the board with 24 of his 40 pitches remaining.

The four batters who hit ahead of Alonso recorded totals between 18 and 21 apiece, giving the four-time All-Star an idea of how many he would need to advance.

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Unfortunately for Alonso, he managed only four more home runs during regulation, and while he muscled out three more during his bonus round, his total left him on the outside looking in on the semifinals.

“I just didn't think I squared up enough baseballs at the right launch angle,” Alonso said. “I thought I took some good swings; I was either a little underneath it or a little over it. I’m happy with the swings I took, happy with the experience.”

Alonso’s 12 homers averaged 417 feet, traveling a total distance of 5,007 feet -- the equivalent of 0.95 miles. His longest homer went 446 feet, while his hardest-hit ball clocked in at 109 mph off the bat.

Alonso said he’s always “in it to win it” when he takes part in the Derby, but despite his quick exit Monday night, he’s looking forward to participating again in future years. Only five players -- Griffey (8), Mark McGwire (7), Barry Bonds (6), Prince Fielder (6) and Sammy Sosa (6) -- have been a part of the Derby more times than Alonso, whose 207 home runs are the most since the event began in 1985.

“It's super fun and I love competing in this,” Alonso said. “It's a great event. There's definitely more in there, for sure.”