Two-time champ announces HR Derby plans on Sunday Night Baseball
Pete Alonso is already a two-time Home Run Derby champion, but that's apparently not enough hardware for him.
The Mets All-Star first baseman was mic'd up on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and gave baseball fans the answer they wanted when asked if he'd be going after a record-tying third title.
Alonso is the fifth player to announce he'll be a part of this year's Derby, joining first-time entrants Randy Arozarena and Mookie Betts, along with all-time single-Derby home run leader Vladimir Guerrero Jr, who hit 91 total dingers in the 2019 edition that was ultimately won by Alonso in a final-round upset.
Julio Rodriguez of the Mariners will also be in the competition, hitting in front of his hometown fans in Seattle, which will be hosting the All Star Game for the first time since 2001. Rodriguez was the runner-up in last year's event.
There are still three spots that need to be filled between now and July 10.
Of course, Alonso wasn't satisfied with just making that announcement on Sunday. He then went out and slugged an eighth-inning bomb in the Mets 8-4 over the Giants. It was his 25th of the year, second only to Atlanta's Matt Olson in the National League.
Alonso won back-to-back Derbys in 2019 and 2021, and will attempt to become just the second person to win three times, joining Hall of Famer Ken Griffey, Jr, who won in 1994, '98 and '99. There was no Derby in 2020 due to COVID-19.
It'll be Alonso's fourth-straight appearance in the competition. He was eliminated in the semifinals of last year's Derby by Rodriguez, who would eventually lose in the final to Juan Soto.
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