Mets first baseman Pete Alonso took his baseball-demolishing tour to JetBlue Park on Saturday when the Mets visited the Red Sox, and got some high praise from Sox manager Alex Cora after the game.
Cora, who has some MVP candidates on his roster, said Alonso is "Probably the best hitter in Florida right now," according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald.
That praise came after Alonso sent a homer clear out of the ballpark.
Pete Alonso, casually hitting one WAY out of the stadium. No big deal.pic.twitter.com/zQUzv6oSYY
- SNY (@SNYtv) March 9, 2019
Alonso, who is in a battle with Dominic Smith for the Mets' starting job at first base, is hitting an absolutely ridiculous .423/.464/.885 with three homers and three doubles in 26 at-bats this spring.
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has stated repaetedly that the Mets will not base any decisions regarding Alonso on their ability to secure an additional year of service time if he is ln the minors for the first few weeks of the season.
And with both Todd Frazier and Jed Lowrie seeming like longshots to be ready for Opening Day, the expectation is that the Mets will shift Jeff McNeil back to third base temporarily, leaving first base open for one of Smith, Alonso, or even J.D. Davis on Opening Day.