On Tuesday, Pete Alonso made history by surpassing Darryl Strawberry’s long-standing Mets home run record of 252, hitting his 253rd career home run to claim the title of the New York Mets’ home run king. Alonso connected solidly on a fastball from Spencer Strider to achieve this milestone at Citi Field.
He did not stop there; just three innings later, Alonso added another home run, marking his 254th and firmly establishing his new franchise record. After his second homer, Alonso paid homage to Strawberry by raising his helmet in tribute to the retired player’s No. 18 jersey displayed at the stadium.
Darryl Strawberry Reflects on Alonso’s Achievement and Mets’ Growing Talent
The day after Alonso’s record-breaking performance, Darryl Strawberry joined SNY Live to share his thoughts on Alonso’s accomplishment and the Mets’ development of homegrown players. Strawberry expressed pride in the Mets’ ability to cultivate talent capable of rivaling that of the New York Yankees, highlighting how Alonso’s career with the Mets exemplifies this success.
“When I was coming through, we had so many young talented players that had a chance to break through with myself and Doc Gooden coming through the organization,” Strawberry said (Timestamp- 2:10 onwards).
He also compared Alonso’s path to those of former Mets stars like David Wright and Mookie Wilson, emphasizing the importance of players developing within the franchise rather than arriving from other teams.
“And then, when you see younger players like David Wright, Andrés come through, and then you see Pete come through, guys like that, when you see homegrown players, especially, I mean, because when you look across over in the Bronx, they have nothing but young talent coming through the organization.
“And it’s time for people to start recognizing that the Mets have had some great young players come through their farm system, develop, and become great players at the major league level. … Pete’s had his share of struggles, just like anybody else, and he’ll tell you that too. But the thing I like about younger players and homegrown players is that they don’t quit, they don’t fight. They have a lot of fight in them, and Pete has shown that,” he added.
Alonso’s Emotional Response to Reaching Franchise Milestone
Selected by the Mets in the 2016 MLB draft, Pete Alonso has remained a key figure in the team’s lineup throughout his career. His resume includes five All-Star selections between 2019 and 2025, an All-MLB First Team honor in 2019, and the National League Rookie of the Year award that same season.
After setting the new home run record, Alonso described the achievement as a profoundly significant moment for him and admitted to being emotionally moved by the experience.
“As a kid, you don’t really think that it’s in the realm of possibility to be a franchise home run leader. It’s a wild dream, to be honest, and it’s really special,” Alonso said via CrunchSports.com. “I had tears in my eyes. For how much we’ve been through the past two months, to just live that moment, I think we’ve got to take a step back there and appreciate what you’re experiencing.”
Currently, Alonso is enjoying a strong season at the plate, holding a .267 batting average with 28 home runs, while playing under a lucrative two-year, $54 million contract.
The Importance of Alonso’s Feat for the Mets’ Future
By becoming the Mets home run king, Pete Alonso has not only cemented his place in franchise history but has also energized the team and its fan base. His accomplishment highlights the Mets’ ability to produce elite power hitters through their development system, a point underscored by Strawberry’s remarks comparing the Mets’ rising talents with those of their Bronx rivals.
Alonso’s record signals a promising trajectory for the Mets as they continue to cultivate homegrown stars who demonstrate resilience and determination. His milestone serves as a hopeful beacon during a challenging season and sets a standard for future players to aspire toward within the organization.