Pete Alonso

Pete Alonso's Biography

Peter Morgan Alonso, also known as the “Polar Bear”, was born on December 7, 1994, in Tampa, Florida. He is an accomplished American professional baseball first baseman currently playing for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). Alonso’s father, Peter Matthew Alonso, is a descendant of Spanish refugees from Barcelona during the Spanish Civil War. In contrast, his mother, Michelle Lynn Alonso (née Morgan), is a former college softball player at Ohio Wesleyan University.

Alonso began his education at Jesuit High School, where he displayed a keen interest in athletics. Eventually, he transferred to Henry B. Plant High School, where he decided to focus on baseball solely. After high school, he enrolled at the University of Florida and played college baseball for the Florida Gators as a first baseman. His exceptional performance during his freshman year earned him the All-Southeastern Conference award.

Alonso started his professional baseball career when the New York Mets selected him in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft. He made his MLB debut in 2019, earning praise for his performance that led to several record-setting achievements. His rookie year saw him hitting 53 home runs, a major league record for rookies, winning him the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award. In addition, he led the league in home runs in 2019 and in runs batted in 2022 aside from winning the MLB Home Run Derby twice.

Alonso also had a stint with the Brooklyn Cyclones of the Class A-Short Season New York-Penn League in 2016, where he batted a .322 average with five home runs and 21 RBIs in thirty games. His performance earned him a spot in the league’s all-star game.

Following this early success, Alonso moved up the ranks quickly. In 2018, he received a midseason promotion to the Las Vegas 51s of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, where he participated in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game. During this time, he won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award, proving his status as one of the league’s bright, young stars.

Alonso’s rookie season in 2019 set several MLB records. He broke the National League record for hitting the most home runs by a rookie before the All-Star break. Alonso also won the National League the month award. In the same year, he claimed the 2019 MLB Home Run Derby, making him the second rookie to win the derby outright.

After signing a $7.4 million contract with the Mets in 2022, Alonso further cemented his status as a top player, hitting his first career grand slam and setting a new Mets’ single-season RBI record. In the same year, he achieved the accomplishment of becoming the first Met to hit 40 home runs in a season twice. In 2023, the Mets agreed to a $14.5 million salary for the season during the arbitration period, reflecting his growing status.

Despite his jaw-dropping stats in his career, Alonso has faced several challenges, including suffering a bone bruise and a left wrist sprain after being hit by a pitch in 2023. After a quick recovery, Alonso managed to hit twice and drive in four runs, achieving 40-plus home runs and 100 RBIs for the second consecutive season. Yet, these accolades are only some of the records that Alonso holds. He has secured his place in Mets history as one of their most successful players and is on course to be remembered as one of baseball’s most potent hitters.