With 21 home runs so far in 2025, Pete Alonso will have the Mets franchise home run record in his sights during the second half of the season.
Pete Alonso's strength helped earn him his nickname "Polar Bear" early in his career, and now the power has him on the precipice of history.
At the All-Star break, the Mets first baseman — now a five-time National League All-Star — has 247 career home runs, five away from matching Darryl Strawberry for the club home run record. With half a dozen home runs, Alonso will be the Mets' new home run king in his seventh season.
While Alonso is conscious of the record, he said it is an achievement that simply comes along his pursuit to help the Mets find success.
"I know it, but again, I just want to help the team win," Alonso said after a two-home run performance against the Yankees on July 5. "That's really all I want to do."
Pete Alonso in Mets home run standings
Even despite missing a full campaign with the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Alonso has been vaulting up the ranks of Mets power hitters since setting the rookie home run record with 53 in 2019 and then piling on two more 40-home run seasons in 2022 and 2023.
It only took five seasons for Alonso to vault into the franchise's top five, with his 192 career home runs after the 2023 season matching Howard Johnson for fifth all time.
Alonso's 29th home run of the 2024 season on Aug. 29 against the Diamondbacks vaulted him past Mike Piazza. He entered the 2025 season with 226 home runs and 16 shy of David Wright for second all time.
It took 66 games for Alonso to hit 17 home runs and set Strawberry into his sights.
Here is where Alonso stands in the Mets' home run leaderboard:
- Darryl Strawberry, 252
- Pete Alonso, 247
- David Wright, 242
- Mike Piazza, 220
- Howard Johnson, 192
Pete Alonso's home run pace in 2025
From a statistical standpoint, Alonso had one of his best starts to his career through April. He was slashing .343/.474/.657 with 28 RBI in 31 games, but he had only hit seven home runs.
In May, Alonso weathered a stretch of 16 games and 65 at-bats without a home run — the longest drought of his career. Then, he heated back up, hitting eight home runs in his next 14 games.
Through the opening 97 games of the 2025 season, Alonso has 21 home runs — an average of a home run every 4.6 games. At his current rate, Alonso would set the new Mets home run record in early August.
But the Mets first baseman also has the ability to catch fire.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NY Mets: Where is Pete Alonso in quest for franchise home run record
Category: Baseball
