New York Mets: Pete Alonso needs to secure the season home run crown

The New York Mets are still mathematically in the mix for the final wild-card spot in the National League, but if they can’t succeed a home run title from Pete Alonso could soften the blow.

Pete Alonso has set every New York Mets franchise record for home runs in a season with relative ease as the team continues to fight for a postseason berth. The individual accolades aren’t supposed to take the forefront in team sports, but it’s worth mentioning and applauding for Alonso since he’s only a rookie.

The Mets slugger has eclipsed the 40 home run mark during the regular season and is currently climbing with a chance to win the season’s overall crown. He has passed former Mets greats such as Darryl Strawberry, Todd Hundley and baseball hall of fame catcher Mike Piazza creating a legacy of his own already in his first season. Alonso’s epic victory over Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the All-Star Home Run Derby made him a national star outside of New York and the country.

Another former Mets legend, Carlos Beltran was happy to see the Polar Bear breaks his home run record. In an interview with Zach Braziller of the New York Post recently, Beltran explained his excitement and importance of breaking records.

"“I love to see guys breaking records and setting higher standards for generations to come, Honestly, [having the record] is something that I don’t really think about. I just hope for him to continue to do his job and continue to have a good season. Records are made to be broken and I like to see especially younger guys doing well in baseball. It’s great to see young talent being able to perform.”"

Alonso has brought excitement with every at-bat while at Citifield for Mets fans to salivate over every booming home run. The Mets aren’t sitting too pretty in the wild card race forcing the focus to return to Alonso’s historic season possibly. The first rookie since 1938 to set a new team record in Major League Baseball history is a fantastic accomplishment that needs a proper ending with the season crown.

The stadium will be filled with fans to finish the season bringing back memories of great season-ending home run races that helped to build the popularity baseball in the late ’90s and early 2000s.

Jeff McNeil has had a tremendous season for New York, but it shouldn’t be questioned that the face of baseball in Queens is a Polar Bear.