What Happened to Pete Alonso? Why is Pete Alonso Not Playing Tonight?

Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso, an American professional baseball player, currently serves as the first baseman for the New York Mets in Major League Baseball (MLB). Having debuted in 2019, Alonso quickly made a name for himself and earned the prestigious title of National League (NL) Rookie of the Year. Renowned for his remarkable power-hitting abilities, he has achieved significant milestones, triumphing in the Home Run Derby not once, but twice, in 2019 and 2021.

Born on December 7, 1994, in Tampa, Florida, Alonso attended Plant High School in his hometown, where he showcased his talents in both baseball and football. The Mets selected him in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB draft. Alonso embarked on his professional career with the Kingsport Mets, competing in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. Impressively, he concluded the season with an impressive .300 batting average, 10 home runs, and 47 RBIs.

In 2017, Alonso split his time between the Brooklyn Cyclones in the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League and the St. Lucie Mets in the Class A-Advanced Florida State League. Throughout 125 games, he maintained an exceptional .302 batting average while recording 17 home runs and 72 RBIs. The following year, Alonso played for the Binghamton Mets in the Class AA Eastern League, solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with. In 119 games, he exhibited his prowess by achieving a .287 batting average, 36 home runs, and 119 RBIs.

Alonso's highly anticipated MLB debut took place on April 6, 2019, marking the beginning of an impressive career. Merely four days later, on April 10, he smashed his first career home run against the Philadelphia Phillies. Concluding his rookie season with remarkable achievements, Alonso held a .260 batting average along with an astounding 53 home runs and 124 RBIs. This outstanding performance earned him the well-deserved title of NL Rookie of the Year, making him the first Met to receive this honor since Darryl Strawberry in 1983.

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In 2020, Alonso's season was shortened due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, he demonstrated his resilience and determination by maintaining a .257 batting average, 16 home runs, and 54 RBIs across 57 games. The following year, in 2021, Alonso bounced back, delivering exceptional results with a .258 batting average, 37 home runs, and 102 RBIs. Impressively, he secured victory in the Home Run Derby for the second time, becoming the first player since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998-99 to claim back-to-back wins in the event.

Acknowledged for his outstanding skills, Pete Alonso is a two-time All-Star and a two-time Home Run Derby champion. Regarded as one of baseball's most formidable power hitters, he is expected to remain a pivotal asset to the Mets' offensive strategies for many years to come.

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What Happened to Pete Alonso?

Pete Alonso is experiencing discomfort in his left wrist and forearm, but it seems that he has managed to avoid a devastating blow to the Mets' lineup.

During Wednesday night's game against the Braves at Truist Park, Alonso was struck by a 97-mph fastball from Charlie Morton, forcing him to leave the game in the first inning. The Mets suffered a 7-5 loss.

The initial diagnosis reveals a contusion in Alonso's left wrist, with X-rays showing no signs of fracture. The Mets consider his condition as day-to-day, and Alonso is scheduled for additional imaging on Thursday.

Alonso expressed optimism about the negative X-ray results, stating, "It's highly encouraging. Tomorrow, we'll have a bone scan just to be certain, but it's really good news." However, he also mentioned the importance of monitoring the swelling and expressed hope that it subsides quickly, allowing him to return to the game as soon as possible.

Interestingly, Alonso faced a chorus of boos from the crowd when he stepped up to the plate, likely due to his microphone incident the previous day, where he was caught taunting Braves pitcher Bryce Elder.

During Tuesday night's game, Pete Alonso showcased his impressive skills by hitting his 22nd home run of the season on a slider. However, his actions after the hit stirred up controversy when he yelled toward Bryce Elder, the opposing pitcher, saying, "Throw it again, please!" This incident quickly gained attention as the clip went viral, and Alonso faced significant backlash from many individuals.

In an interesting turn of events, on Wednesday, as Alonso stepped up to the plate, the crowd's reaction took a different tone. Instead of boos, the fans cheered as Charlie Morton hit Alonso with a pitch, causing him to fall to the ground.

Reflecting on the situation, Alonso attributed the incident to the consequences of his earlier remarks in the dugout, which were picked up by a hot microphone. He expressed his belief that the situation had been blown out of proportion, emphasizing that his intention was merely friendly and competitive banter. Alonso clarified that he did not mean any harm by his words.

Why is Alonso Not Playing Tonight?

In the Mets' matchup against the Braves on Wednesday, Pete Alonso, the standout first baseman, sustained a left wrist contusion, which forced him to leave the game early in the first inning. The injury happened when he was struck by a 96.5-mph fastball delivered by Braves pitcher Charlie Morton. Fortunately, subsequent X-rays revealed no fractures, and Alonso's condition is currently listed as day-to-day.

Prior to his departure, Alonso exhibited visible signs of discomfort and received attention from manager Buck Showalter and a member of the training staff. This incident follows a confrontation between Pete Alonso and Braves pitcher Bryce Elder during Tuesday's game, where Alonso, after hitting a home run off Elder, shouted, "Throw it again." Consequently, Alonso faced a chorus of boos from Braves fans both before and during Wednesday's game.

Tommy Pham stepped in to replace Pete Alonso in the lineup, underscoring the significance of Alonso's presence within the Mets' batting order. With 22 home runs, he currently leads the Major Leagues in that category and ranks first in the National League with 49 RBIs.

This isn't the first time Alonso has encountered a wrist injury scare. In June of the previous year, he was hit by a pitch from the Padres' Yu Darvish, narrowly avoiding a stint on the injured list and missing only one game.

The Mets have had their fair share of injuries resulting from hit-by-pitches, as exemplified by Starling Marte's fractured right middle finger, which caused him to miss the final month of the regular season last year. Alonso's injury sheds light on the team's lack of power threats beyond him in the lineup.

During Tuesday night's game, Alonso's taunt directed at Bryce Elder was inadvertently captured by a dugout microphone. Despite this incident, Manager Buck Showalter had already contemplated rearranging the batting order, and he finally implemented the change for Wednesday's game. Jeff McNeil was shifted to the second spot, with Francisco Lindor assuming the third spot. While both players have been struggling as of late, the hope was that the new lineup arrangement would afford McNeil improved opportunities at the plate.

The status of Pete Alonso will be closely monitored, given his crucial role in the Mets' offensive prowess. The team eagerly awaits his swift recovery and prompt return to the lineup.

Pete Alonso Exits With Wrist Injury

Amidst the turmoil of the Mets' tumultuous 2023 season, another setback unfolded on Wednesday evening in Atlanta.

In the opening inning, Pete Alonso fell victim to a 97 mph fastball from Braves starter Charlie Morton, striking him on the left wrist and forcing him out of the game. The Mets received a glimmer of hope as X-rays yielded negative results, revealing a left wrist contusion for Alonso. Further evaluation through a bone scan is scheduled for Thursday, and his status remains day-to-day.

Alonso expressed cautious optimism, stating, "It's incredibly encouraging, but at the same time, we need to monitor the swelling. Hopefully, it subsides quickly, allowing me to return to action as soon as possible." Tommy Pham entered the game as a pinch runner and took over left field, while Mark Canha assumed Alonso's position at first base. Following the X-rays, Morton approached Alonso and apologized for the unintentional hit.

"To be honest, there's no need for speculation or questioning. It's simply a case of getting hit by an up-and-in fastball. He wanted to throw it again, and it got away from him," Alonso explained. During Wednesday night's game, Alonso faced the wrath of Braves fans due to his remarks from the Mets' dugout the previous night. After crushing a two-run homer in the second inning on Tuesday, Alonso could be heard saying, "Throw it again," to Bryce Elder. The crowd at Truist Park vehemently booed when Alonso's name was announced in the lineup, and their cheers resounded when he was struck and subsequently removed from the game. In response to the incident, Elder did not appear offended by Alonso's actions following Tuesday's game.

"It's regrettable that it was blown out of proportion," Alonso clarified. "It was just friendly banter, typical competition. If you were to listen to the microphones in both dugouts, you'd hear things that could be taken as offensive. Personally, I meant no harm by it." Alonso currently leads Major League Baseball with 22 home runs and the National League with 49 RBIs this season. He has participated in all 62 games thus far, only missing two contests in the 2022 season.

After being hit, Alonso initially headed toward first base before first-base coach Wayne Kirby offered him some rational advice.

"My priority is my long-term health," Alonso emphasized. "I don't want to be reckless and exacerbate the injury in the heat of the moment. I aim to take care of myself, recover as quickly as possible, and return to the game when I'm back to normal.