David Wright’s final game signaled the end of an era for Mets baseball. Wright was a perennial All-Star for the Mets, and a team captain whose stability guided the franchise through periods of turbulence and strife. On a crisp autumn night at Citi Field, fans stayed for the entirety of a 13-inning game against the lowly Marlins so they could shower their hero with adoration one last time.
Replacing Wright on the field would be no easy task; finding a player with comparable leadership skills would be even tougher.
Once David Wright rode off into the sunset, fans assumed it would be a while before anyone inherited the role of team captain. Little did they know that in 2019, a rookie slugger would assume Wright’s responsibilities with poise and panache.
Click here to discover which records were shattered by Pete Alonso during his historic 2019 season.
Alonso’s Emergence
Pete Alonso is the perfect captain for the New York Mets, a fact which has been evident since the early stages of his big league career. The first baseman was not guaranteed a roster spot out of Spring Training in 2019, and many assumed he would not debut until mid-April so the club could have him under control for an extra year. To the organization’s credit, Alonso was rewarded for an exemplary spring performance that saw him crush ten extra-base hits over twenty-two games. He belonged in the big leagues, and once he made it to “the Show”, he was ready to put the rest of the National League on notice.
Alonso broke several records over the course of his rookie season, but his most impressive feat was how he handled the media and promoted a positive public image for his ballclub. Alonso’s belief in himself translated to an equally unwavering confidence in his teammates. In June, Alonso convinced the umpiring crew to let the Mets continue playing despite a steady downpour. The decision backfired on the Mets, as closer Edwin Díaz proceeded to blow the save and allow the Cardinals to tie the game.
In response to Diaz’s failure, KFC of Barstool Sports took to Twitter to claim that Alonso had angered him for the first time. Alonso did not mince words in his response, responding to KFC with “Are you kidding me? Why are you mad at me for having confidence in my teammates? I’m a damn competitor and I’ll take my team over any one else any day. A real Mets fan doesn’t talk like that. Clean it up. #YaGottaBelieve #LGM.”
Alonso’s reply sent a simple and direct message: Don’t dare disrespect my teammates. Fans found the tweet endearing, as it further demonstrated Alonso’s loyalty to his brethren. That selflessness carried over to the All-Star break in Cleveland, where Alonso took part in the annual Home Run Derby. The event was a coming out party for the fledgling first baseman, who used the platform to demonstrate his civic-mindedness.
Home Run Derby Dominance
Before he even received his Home Run Derby invite, Alonso announced that were he to win the Derby, he would donate a portion of the one million dollar prize to charity. He proceeded to win the event, and stayed true to his word by giving $50,000 to both the Wounded Warrior Project and the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The prize money was nearly twice his 2019 salary, but Alonso felt an obligation to put the earnings toward a worthy cause.
Whereas most rookies are hopelessly naive when it comes to public relations, Alonso already understood the importance of generating positive press and giving back to the community. He made a similar gesture on September 11th, when he decided to buy custom 9/11 commemorative cleats for his teammates despite potential objection by MLB’s governing body.
Cultivating Fan Connection
In addition to generating positive press for the Mets organization, Alonso demonstrated leadership by forging a connection with the fanbase. On July 31st, with the Mets seemingly out of contention but in the midst of a winning streak, he took to Twitter once more. This time, Alonso thanked the fans for their support and urged them to come to Citi Field during the final two months of the season to spur the team to victory. He ended the message with “LFGM,” adding an expletive to the usual acronym for “Let’s Go Mets.” The fans already loved Alonso, and Alonso was letting them know that their undying enthusiasm was appreciated by the players.
Pete Alonso may not have a “C” on his chest just yet, but his leadership had a profound impact on the 2019 Mets. The club fell just short of the postseason, and their never-say-die attitude was a direct reflection of Alonso’s own tenacious demeanor. The rookie fostered a culture of togetherness among his teammates, which was never more apparent than when the team was fighting for a playoff spot in September.
Team-First Mentality
After J.D. Davis crashed into a wall at Colorado’s Coors Field on September 16th, Alonso ran all the way from first base into left field to make sure Davis was okay. As the moment unfolded, SNY play-by-play man Gary Cohen remarked that he had never seen a player run so far just to check on a teammate. Color commentator Ron Darling added insightful commentary, noting that Alonso had completely changed the team’s clubhouse culture from the year before. Alonso would later refer to Davis as the “Sun Bear” to his Polar Bear, further illustrating the close-knit bond among the players on the Mets roster.
Like David Wright, Pete Alonso represents the Mets organization with dignity and pride. But while Wright was often soft-spoken and reserved in his public comments, Alonso has proven to be more fiery in nature. He earned a slew of accolades for his historic rookie campaign, and yet he remains more driven by team success than individual achievement. Alonso’s affability and insatiable desire to bring a title home to Queens make him the ideal Mets captain.
