The hype surrounding Mets prospect Peter Alonso continues to build.
The 24-year-old was recently ranked as the top first base prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline and was rated with two others as having the best power and is the candidate of the group to most likely win Rookie of the Year.
Alonso hit 36 home runs in the minors last season and six more during the Arizona Fall League.
The first baseman is among Spring Training invites to keep a close eye on as he will fight for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
The Mets have a crowded infield with several players who could potentially play first base, including Jed Lowrie, Jeff McNeil, J.D. Davis and even Todd Frazier, if they were to move him off third base.
GM Brodie Van Wagenen, however, noted that Alonso has a realistic chance of breaking camp as the starting first baseman, but added the extra competition should "put more pressure" on the prospect.
"In some ways I hope that it puts more pressure and creates more excitement and motivation for Peter," Van Wagenen told SNY's Andy Martino in an exclusive 1-on-1 interview at the Lowrie press conference. "If any of you guys have had a chance to talk to him, he's an incredibly hard worker and he wants to drive himself to be the best. He's got an opportunity to do that at Spring Training."