MIAMI — Pete Alonso has always been known more for his bat than his glove, but the Polar Bear is hoping to change that this season. Coming into spring training, Alonso was excited about the work he had done over the winter to improve his defense, aiming to cut down on errors, make better decisions and more accurate throws.
With the Mets using two new infielders in these early-season games, they’re relying heavily on Alonso. Brett Baty had never played second base at any level higher than Triple-A until last weekend and Luisangel Acuña is only a 23-year-old rookie with 18 big league games under his belt.
A steady presence with good communication is crucial to the Mets defense right now, and Alonso is providing all of that and more.
“I’m feeling great so far,” Alonso recently told the Daily News. “Honestly, the biggest thing is just being smart with the baseball and just making plays I should make at this point.”
Over three games against the Houston Astros over the weekend, Alonso made a number of tough picks. It was clear that there were some growing pains with Acuña especially, but a naturally-gifted infielder settled in and made some stellar defensive plays after a rough first game. Manager Carlos Mendoza highlighted one in particular that came in the eighth inning second game of the series.
With the Mets up 3-1 and a runner on first with one out, Yordan Alvarez golfed a 98.8 MPH heater from Ryne Stanek down the left side. Alonso charged at the hard grounder but was unable to glove it. However, Acuña dove behind him, making an excellent stop. With the runner nearly to second already, Alonso told Acuña to flip the ball to him, getting back to first base in time to get the out.
“Pete had a really good, really nice read,” Mendoza said. “He broke towards the ball on the first step, and then went back to the base right away. A first baseman could have easily just kept on going after the baseball, and then you’re talking about a pitcher covering first. I thought that was a good read, and that’s what you want to see when these guys are kind of getting familiar with each other.”
The term ball security is more commonly used in football and basketball, but it’s something Alonso is emphasizing for himself. Consistency in his pregame work is key to making sure the improvements stick. Some of it can’t be taught — like the speed of the game — but at this point in his career, he understands just how fast it can get in the infield, which is why it’s helpful to have him there with shortstop Francisco Lindor.
The two can be calming influences for Baty, Acuña and even Mark Vientos at third base. When mistakes are made, Alonso and Lindor are often seen talking to their young teammates, putting them at ease by telling them they’ll get the next play.
“I think it’s having more of a higher understanding of the speed of the game,” Alonso said. “And then also, I think it’s just taking care of the baseball, controlling what I can control and being smart, being smart with the baseball, that’s the ultimate thing.”
Alonso’s -9 OAA in 2024 was the worst of his career. But the Mets think he’s been a better defender than the metrics show. Mendoza considers him one of the best in the league when it comes to picks, he likes the way he uses the entire bag and describes his footwork as “elite.”
If the improvements he’s made continue, the metrics will look better.
“Trying to get to that extra ball or two in the four-hole or down the line — I think that’s the biggest thing when it comes down to defensive numbers,” Mendoza said. “Just getting a couple of extra balls range-wise because he’s got really good hands, so if he’s getting to them, he’s going to make the plays. So I think the biggest thing is trying to extend him a little bit.”
