Pete Alonso breaks home run record for National League rookies

Pete Alonso hit his 40th home run of the season this afternoon in Kansas City, and now owns the record for most home runs by a National League rookie. Alonso surpasses Cody Bellinger, whose record of 39 was set in 2017. Bellinger set the record on September 22; Alonso set his on August 18.

Before Bellinger, the record was shared by Frank Robinson’s 38 home runs in 1956 for the Reds, and Wally Berger in 1930 for the Boston Braves. The all-time rookie record was set just last year by Aaron Judge of the Yankees with 52. Alonso’s 162 game pace, according to Baseball Reference, is 52.

Alonso isn’t just looking at setting rookie records either; he is now one behind the Mets single season record of 41, held by Carlos Beltran (2006) and Todd Hundley (1996).

In a season that has produced so many highs and lows, Alonso’s home run prowess has been one of the consistent bright spots for the 2019 Mets. Going into today, Alonso was hitting .266/.370/.594 with 24 doubles, good for an OPS+ of 153. Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out, Alsono’s performance in 2019 will be one for the record books.