Former Florida baseball star Pete Alonso made Mets history Tuesday night, slugging his way past one of the franchise’s most iconic names.
Alonso launched career home run No. 253 in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves, passing Darryl Strawberry for the most in New York Mets franchise history.
The record-setting blast, his 27th of the season, was an opposite-field shot to right, traveling 387 feet with an exit velocity of 113 mph. The pitch, a 95 mph four-seam fastball, was thrown right down the middle of the plate by Atlanta’s pitcher Spencer Strider. A mistake pitch that Alonso capitalized on.
“As a kid, you don’t really think that it’s in the realm of possibility to be a franchise home run leader,” Alonso said after the game. “It’s a wild dream, to be honest. And it’s really special.”
The former Gator wasn’t finished. In the sixth inning, Alonso added another homer to his total. He finished the game going 3-for-5, helping power the Mets to a signature victory.
Alonso’s milestone night is the latest chapter in a career defined by power. Since debuting in 2019, he’s been the heartbeat of New York’s lineup, and his production this season—now 28 home runs and 96 RBI—has been critical to the Mets’ playoff hopes.
As Alonso continues to climb baseball’s all-time leaderboards, his success serves as a point of pride for Gator Nation and a testament to the program’s ability to produce stars at the sport’s highest level.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Florida baseball star Pete Alonso becomes Mets’ all-time home run leader
Reporting by Aidan Gallardo, Gators Wire / Gators Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
