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Mets' Pete Alonso Would Be 'Honored' to Participate in 2019 MLB Home Run Derby
May 15, 2019
Pete Alonso has been the New York Mets' best position player in 2019. And now he's hoping that will translate into an invitation to this year's Home Run Derby.
"I would love to do it," he said Tuesday, per Mike Puma of the New York Post. "I think that would be fun, a real amazing thing to do, but I haven't heard anything yet. I would be honored to do it for sure."
"It's fun to watch, it's a real great atmosphere, and I just think it would be a real fun time," he added. "Not just for the guys on the field, but for the fans as well. It would be an amazing experience for sure. I hope somebody picks me. That would be really cool."
If Alonso continues to rake at his pace, he'll get that invite. He's hitting .270 with 12 homers, 32 RBI and 26 runs. He's the front-runner for NL Rookie of the Year after he won the Rookie of the Month award in March/April.
There has long been a discussion about whether participating in the Home Run Derby alters a player's swing down the stretch of a season. Puma noted New York Yankees star Aaron Judge won the 2017 event, but it "likely contributed to a left shoulder injury that affected his second-half production."
Alonso said he wasn't aware of the situation but noted he'd participate anyway if given the opportunity.
"I don't know if he did or didn't," he said. "But I think it's one of those things if you have a chance to do it and you haven't done it before, why not do it? You only live once."