With a day off on Monday before the start of the Subway Series, Pete Alonso hosted his second annual Night of Comedy with Special Guests to benefit the Alonso Foundation. At the event, the first baseman answered questions about his current injury and his future with the Mets.
When asked whether he was going to test the open market in free agency after the 2024 season, Alonso answered by giving a glowing review of New York and the Mets organization, calling both “really special.”
“I’ve been here, as a New York Met in the organization, since 2016 and they believed in me first and it’s really special,” he said. “I love New York and right now, New York is home. I can’t predict the future but right now I love where I’m at and (the fans) are phenomenal and it’s such a great place to play. It’s really special.”
The Mets and Alonso agreed to a one-year, $14.5 million contract during the offseason in his second year of arbitration. After this season, the 28-year-old will enter his third year of arbitration before becoming a free agent in 2025 if the two sides do not agree on a contract extension before then.
Alonso, who is on the IL after getting hit on the wrist against the Atlanta Braves last week, leads MLB in home runs (22) and leads the NL in RBI (49).
As for his injury, the slugger, who was sporting a splint on his arm over his suit during the event, said he’s recovering well and can’t wait to be back on the field.
“I feel great. I know it looks bad with the splint, but I’m feeling excellent so I’m gonna get back out there as soon as possible. That’s the number one goal. I want to be out there ASAP,” Alonso said.
Unfortunately, he will not be able to suit up when the Mets and Yankees clash in the first installment of the 2023 Subway Series on Tuesday night at Citi Field. However, the Bombers will be without their superstar, too, as Aaron Judge is also on the IL.
Neither team is firing on all cylinders going into the matchup. The Amazins’ have lost eight of their last nine games while the Yanks just finished a 2-4 homestand, dropping a series against their other rival the Boston Red Sox and have struggled to score runs in Judge’s absence.
However, perhaps Alonso’s Night of Comedy, which many of Alonso’s teammates were present at, is the perfect tonic for a reeling Mets team in search of any kind of spark.