Pete Alonso is hands down the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year award. His impressive rookie resume includes winning the most dramatic Home Run Derby ever and breaking the NL rookie home run record. After his 42nd home run, he now holds the Mets single-season record as well.
Alonso took Cubs starter Yu Darvish deep to right field in the fourth inning for his record home run. The previous Mets record of 41 was set by Todd Hundley in 1996 and matched by Carlos Beltran in 2006.
Earlier this month, he broke Cody Bellinger’s NL rookie home run record set in 2017. The MLB rookie record sits at 52, set by Aaron Judge that same year.
His homer put the Mets up 1-0, but the Cubs ended up coming back and winning the game. Despite the loss, the Mets have been on a tear recently and are trying to catch up in the wild card race. “Polar Bear”, as Alonso has been affectionately nicknamed in New York, has been a big part of that, and looks to continue building on his impressive rookie year.
