From Slump to Surge: Alonso Finds Groove After Tough May
For a minute there, things looked a little off for Pete Alonso. The power-hitting first baseman who opened the 2024 season on fire suddenly hit a wall in May—going a career-long 65 at-bats without a home run and leaving fans wondering if the slugger had cooled off for good. But baseball is a long game, and Alonso is proving once again that slumps are just temporary setbacks.
Now, he’s heating back up—and the Dodgers are finding that out the hard way.
From Slump to Surge
Since ending his homerless streak on May 25 against the Dodgers at Citi Field, Alonso has launched four more bombs in just nine games. The latest came in Wednesday’s 6-1 win in Los Angeles, where Alonso cranked two home runs—one in the first inning, another in the eighth—to fuel a big bounce-back win.
“Two good shots. Two-run homer in the first inning to set the tone, added on late to put the game away,” said manager Carlos Mendoza. “Was good to see.”
Alonso’s first blast traveled 392 feet off Tony Gonsolin, giving the Mets a comfortable 3-0 lead early. But he wasn’t done. With the game still within reach for L.A. late, Alonso delivered the knockout punch—a towering 447-foot three-run homer in the eighth.
“It was a great team win,” Alonso said afterward, giving plenty of love to the pitching staff. “Griffin [Canning] executed all his pitches, sequenced well, [Jose] Castillo did a great job, [Ryne Stanek] did a good job holding it down… Big time from those guys.”
Making Mets History—Quietly
With his two-homer night, Alonso now sits at 240 career home runs, just 12 shy of Darryl Strawberry’s all-time Mets record. He also tied Strawberry’s mark of 22 multi-homer games with the team. But if you ask him, that’s not what matters.
“Felt good, but for me, I was more excited to grab some insurance runs,” Alonso said. “That’s a very high-octane offense over there… From the circumstances of the game and the series, we’re just happy to come through as a team.”
Classic Pete—focused on the W, not the stat sheet.
May Blues, June Breakout
Alonso’s early-season form was borderline elite: a .358/.483/.684 slash line with seven home runs in March and April. But May? Not so much. He dipped to a .234 average and only four homers. It wasn’t panic time, but it wasn’t ideal either.
Now? He’s had just one hitless game in his last 11, with 15 RBIs during that stretch.
“I just feel consistent. I feel like myself,” Alonso said. “I’ve felt like myself the entire year so far. Pitch to pitch and AB to AB. That’s all I’m trying to do. Trying to be the same guy every day.”
Mendoza: It’s All Part of the Ride
Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza chalks it up to the usual ebb and flow of a 162-game grind.
“When you’re playing 162 you’re going to go through stretches where they are going to make you chase and you have to make adjustment and that’s what he did,” Mendoza said. “That’s what makes him a great hitter, his ability to adjust… Now he’s back to that hitter we saw in the beginning and when he’s doing that, he’s pretty dangerous.”
Same Guy. Every Day.
Pete Alonso isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. He’s sticking to what’s always worked for him—consistency, confidence, and clutch power. And if the last week is any indication, pitchers might want to take note: the Polar Bear is back.
And he feels like himself again.