\n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","thumbnail_url":null,"type":"oembed","width":550,"contentType":"rich"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"On the eve of the Derby, Alonso cranked a Nola curveball 396 feet to right-center field for the Mets’ first hit of the game. That extended his National League rookie record for home runs before the All-Star break to 30, matching Aaron Judge’s total in 2017. Only Mark McGwire hit more before the break as a rookie, with 33 in 1987.\n\nAlonso also logged his 67th and 68th RBIs to set an NL rookie record before midseason. He leads all rookies in homers, RBI, extra-base hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, runs, hits, multi-hit games, doubles and walks. And he is one home run shy of Christian Yelich for a share of the overall Major League lead.\n\nWait, there’s more. Alonso on Sunday joined Dave Kingman in 1976 as the only Mets to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break, and moved within 11 homers of the franchise record for a full season of 41, which Todd Hundley set in 1996 and Carlos Beltran matched 10 years later.\n\n“He’s a slugger,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “Not only is he a slugger, but he can hit.”\n\nTo demonstrate his point, Callaway referenced an adjustment Alonso made in the sixth inning against Nola, who had permitted just three baserunners -- via two walks and a Rhys Hoskins fielding error -- up to that point. Earlier in the day, Alonso had shifted up in the batter’s box, trying to counteract the types of low breaking pitches that Nola threw him in a game last month. When he realized he was a tick off in his first two at-bats Sunday, Alonso scooted up another little bit.","type":"text"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2019-07-03T20:12:29.32Z","preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\"preferredPlaybacks\":\"mp4AvcPlayback\"})":"https://cuts.diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2019/2019-07/03/c652a328-87d2c8e0-3c2210c3-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","type":"video","description":"Mets rookie Pete Alonso will be participating in the 2019 Home Run Derby","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:00:35","slug":"alonso-to-hr-derby","tags":[{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-121","title":"New York Mets","team":{"__ref":"Team:121"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-624413","title":"Pete Alonso","person":{"__ref":"Person:624413"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"home-run-derby","title":"Home Run Derby","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"all-star","title":"All-Star","type":"taxonomy"}],"thumbnail":{"__typename":"Thumbnail","templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/iuwtpam74uvxp2yushfc"},"title":"Alonso to HR Derby","relativeSiteUrl":"/video/alonso-to-hr-derby"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Sure enough, Nola threw a knucklecurve and Alonso didn’t wait for it to drop, bashing it to right-center field. Of Alonso’s 30 home runs, 18 have gone to straightaway center or right.\n\nThat’s not necessarily a skill that will help him in the pull-happy Home Run Derby, but it speaks to his overall effectiveness as a slugger. Just four months ago, there were no guarantees that Alonso would even make the Mets’ Opening Day roster. Now, he’s an All-Star and one of baseball’s top hitters.\n\n“When I got up here, I was just really thankful,” Alonso said. “There’s a lot of people that kind of rolled the dice to see what would happen, and I’m really thankful for that. I just want to make the most out of every single opportunity. I just want to keep getting better.”","type":"text"}],"relativeSiteUrl":"/news/pete-alonso-hits-30th-home-run","contentType":"news","subHeadline":"Mets slugger is 3rd rookie all-time to reach mark before All-Star break","summary":"NEW YORK -- Asked Sunday about his T-Mobile Home Run Derby strategy, Pete Alonso laughed. “Hit more homers than everyone else,” he said.\nAs a tactic, it may seem simple, yet few are as qualified as Alonso to execute it. The Mets rookie capped his colossal first half with the","tagline({\"formatString\":\"none\"})":null,"tags":[{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"season-2019","title":"Season 2019","type":"season"},{"__typename":"InternalTag","slug":"storytype-article","title":"Article","type":"article"},{"__typename":"TeamTag","slug":"teamid-121","title":"New York Mets","team":{"__ref":"Team:121"},"type":"team"},{"__typename":"ContributorTag","slug":"anthony-dicomo","title":"Anthony DiComo","type":"contributor"},{"__typename":"GameTag","gamePk":566032,"slug":"gamepk-566032","title":"2019/07/07 phi@nym","type":"game"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"rivalry","title":"rivalry","type":"taxonomy"},{"__typename":"PersonTag","slug":"playerid-624413","title":"Pete Alonso","person":{"__ref":"Person:624413"},"type":"player"},{"__typename":"TaxonomyTag","slug":"headline-breakout","title":"headline breakout","type":"taxonomy"}],"type":"story","thumbnail":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/v1562527779/mlb/cpchq2mefm67ryepqd9g","title":"Pete Alonso hits 30th home run"}},"Person:624413":{"__typename":"Person","id":624413},"Team:121":{"__typename":"Team","id":121}}}
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Alonso continues historic 1st half with 30th HR
Alonso continues historic 1st half with 30th HR
Mets slugger is 3rd rookie all-time to reach mark before All-Star break
NEW YORK -- Asked Sunday about his T-Mobile Home Run Derby strategy, Pete Alonso laughed. “Hit more homers than everyone else,” he said.
As a tactic, it may seem simple, yet few are as qualified as Alonso to execute it. The Mets rookie capped his colossal first half with the type of opposite-field home run that has defined it, going deep against Aaron Nola in the sixth inning of Sunday's 8-3 loss to become one of three rookies in Major League history to hit at least 30 home runs before the All-Star break.
“I’m living out a fantasy right now,” Alonso said at Citi Field, before boarding a private jet to Cleveland with the Mets’ other All-Stars. “I’m extremely blessed, and I’m very thankful. I just want to keep showing my gratitude by working hard, and busting it innings one through nine, and giving my all every single day here. I don’t know when my career could end. It could end tomorrow, or it could end 15 years from now. I don’t know when my jersey’s going to be taken away from me. I just want to capitalize on every single opportunity I have up here.”
"I'm just really happy with the way I've played," Pete Alonso said of his monster, 30-homer first half. pic.twitter.com/R2YRzNuYuc
On the eve of the Derby, Alonso cranked a Nola curveball 396 feet to right-center field for the Mets’ first hit of the game. That extended his National League rookie record for home runs before the All-Star break to 30, matching Aaron Judge’s total in 2017. Only Mark McGwire hit more before the break as a rookie, with 33 in 1987.
Alonso also logged his 67th and 68th RBIs to set an NL rookie record before midseason. He leads all rookies in homers, RBI, extra-base hits, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, total bases, runs, hits, multi-hit games, doubles and walks. And he is one home run shy of Christian Yelich for a share of the overall Major League lead.
Wait, there’s more. Alonso on Sunday joined Dave Kingman in 1976 as the only Mets to hit 30 homers before the All-Star break, and moved within 11 homers of the franchise record for a full season of 41, which Todd Hundley set in 1996 and Carlos Beltran matched 10 years later.
“He’s a slugger,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “Not only is he a slugger, but he can hit.”
To demonstrate his point, Callaway referenced an adjustment Alonso made in the sixth inning against Nola, who had permitted just three baserunners -- via two walks and a Rhys Hoskins fielding error -- up to that point. Earlier in the day, Alonso had shifted up in the batter’s box, trying to counteract the types of low breaking pitches that Nola threw him in a game last month. When he realized he was a tick off in his first two at-bats Sunday, Alonso scooted up another little bit.
Sure enough, Nola threw a knucklecurve and Alonso didn’t wait for it to drop, bashing it to right-center field. Of Alonso’s 30 home runs, 18 have gone to straightaway center or right.
That’s not necessarily a skill that will help him in the pull-happy Home Run Derby, but it speaks to his overall effectiveness as a slugger. Just four months ago, there were no guarantees that Alonso would even make the Mets’ Opening Day roster. Now, he’s an All-Star and one of baseball’s top hitters.
“When I got up here, I was just really thankful,” Alonso said. “There’s a lot of people that kind of rolled the dice to see what would happen, and I’m really thankful for that. I just want to make the most out of every single opportunity. I just want to keep getting better.”