New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Pete Alonso is on historic HR pace

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 5/25/23

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso smashed his MLB-leading 19th home run Thursday against the Chicago Cubs, continuing a historic power streak.

Alonso is on pace to hit 60 home runs in 2023. If he keeps hitting dingers at the same rate, he will shatter the Mets' single-season record of 53 homers set in 2019 by Alonso himself. Should Alonso reach the 60-home run mark, he'd become the 10th player in MLB history to accomplish the feat, and only the second since 2001, joining New York Yankees' star Aaron Judge (2022).

With the Mets leading the Cubs 5-1 in the seventh Thursday night, Alonso broke things open, hammering a two-run shot for homer No. 19.

Oppo Polar Bear Pop ‍❄️ pic.twitter.com/nrVve6ufcV
— New York Mets (@Mets) May 26, 2023

Four home runs separate Alonso from the rest of the pack in MLB. The next closest players are Jorge Soler of the Miami Marlins and Max Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who both have 15 home runs on the year. Meanwhile, Alonso is third in the league in RBI (45), trailing only Yordan Alvarez (46) of the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers Adolis Garcia (49).

Alonso's hot start also gives the star massive leverage in what amounts to a contract year with the Mets. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, $14.5 million contract for 2023 but has only a year of arbitration remaining before becoming eligible for free agency in 2025.

More must-reads: