New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso is becoming a fan favorite, and the competitive edge he displayed on Sunday is a great example of why that is happening so quickly.
Alonso was hit on the hand with a pitch during Saturday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, and it was assumed he would get an off day on Sunday even after X-rays came back negative. However, he practically begged Mets managed Mickey Callaway to be in the lineup so he could face Cardinals starting pitcher Dakota Hudson, who was a rival in college.
Callaway on Alonso: "I was on the way to eat with my parents and he’s calling and texting me. And then I saw him and then he was like, ‘Hey, I want to play tomorrow. I hate this guy. I played against him in college.’ I don’t know what he was saying. Going nuts."
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) April 21, 2019
Mets fans were happy to hear that Alonso forced his way into the lineup, and they were even more pleased when he smashed a 444-foot home run off Hudson.
.@Pete_Alonso20 wanted to be in the lineup today.
We can see why. pic.twitter.com/xjThfvss0G
— MLB (@MLB) April 21, 2019
Alonso played at Florida and Hudson at Mississippi State, so that explains why there is no love lost between the two.
Alonso already has eight homers on the season, and Sunday’s moonshot wasn’t even his longest of the year. The 24-year-old is one of the most exciting young players in baseball, so stories like Sunday’s will only help him gain popularity.
