Pete Alonso stepped up to the plate for the New York Mets on Monday night against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park in the top of the ninth inning. The Mets had alleviated some of the pressure on his shoulders after they took a 4-3 lead.
Alonso swung at the first pitch and powered it over the center field wall, scoring three runs and giving the Mets a 7-3 advantage, and eventually the win.
This was the first-career home run for the Mets’ second-round pick in 2016. Alonso was a star on Florida’s 2016 College World Series squad.
He had made his Major League debut on Opening Day on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. In four games this season, he is hitting .412 with a home run, six RBIs and seven hits.
Alonso is one of seven Gators who made opening day rosters in 2019. The list also includes Harrison Bader of the St. Louis Cardinals, Mike Zunino of the Tampa Bay Rays, Anthony DeSclafani of the Cincinnati Reds, Brian Johnson of the Boston Red Sox, Darren O’Day of the Atlanta Braves and Richie Martin of the Baltimore Orioles.
Martin was a first round pick in 2015 by the Oakland Athletics and was selected by the Orioles in the Rule 5 draft last offseason. He made his debut on Thursday as the starting shortstop for Baltimore. Martin is off to a slow start this season, hitting .083 with no home runs or RBIs.
Bader, a third-round pick in 2015, is in his third season as a center fielder for the Cardinals. His best season came in 2018, when he hit 12 home runs and drove in 37 RBIs in 138 games. In the first at-bat of the year against the Milwaukee Brewers, he hit a home run.
Zunino is in his first season with the Rays after spending six seasons as a catcher for the Seattle Mariners. He was the first-round pick for the Mariners in 2012. Zunino has yet to get a hit this season in three games and nine plate appearances.
DeSclafani has yet to pitch in his third season with the Reds. He spent his first season in 2015 with the Marlins.
Johnson, a first round selection for the Red Sox in 2012, is in his fourth season. The reliever is off to a good start, with one win and a 2.08 ERA in 4.1 innings.
O’Day is the longest-tenured Gator in the pros. The 36 year old entered the big leagues in 2008 and has played for the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles and now the Atlanta Braves. O’Day is beginning the season on the 10-day IL.
Follow Noah Ram on Twitter @noah_ram1 and contact him at nram@alligator.org.
Former Gator Pete Alonso notched his first career home run for the New York Mets on Monday night.
Noah is a third year journalism-sports and media student from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He has been with The Alligator since Spring 2019 and has covered men’s and women’s tennis, gymnastics and volleyball. When he isn’t on his beat, Noah is usually sadden over his beloved South Florida sports teams, such as the Heat and Dolphins.
