Not long ago, it looked like Pete Alonso was walking away from Queens. The contract talks had stalled, and the air was tense. But fans were not having it, and they made their displeasure known. During the Mets’ Amazon Day celebration at Citi Field, the stadium erupted with chants of “We want Pete!”

Well, that moment seemed to have mattered. Because days later, Steve Cohen himself flew to Tampa for a closed-door conversation with Alonso and Boras. While the conversation in that room is unknown, it worked. Alonso signed a $54 million, two-year deal with an opt-out.

This was to test the waters after this season. And really, fans should be giving a thank-you card to Cohen because Alonso is having more than a prove-it year! Through 70 games till now, the Mets’ star has had a .298 batting average, a .981 OPS, 17 home runs, and 63 RBIs. It’s a thunderous return to his rocky 2024 season. Now, the MVP chants have started to replace even the contract talks. Still, Pete Alonso is not letting the accolades take over his focus.

“It’s nice, I appreciate it. It’s still really early, and ultimately I just want to contribute and help the team win,” Alonso shared with the New York Post in a candid interview. “I think last year getting a true taste of what postseason baseball is like… This year, I’m so motivated to get back. It’s an addictive type of baseball, and I want to do everything in my power to help get the team back there and then also go further than what we did.”

Well, he has been helping the team when things were not going right with Juan Soto, whom the Mets paid an arm and a leg for.

Mets president of baseball operations, David Stearns, couldn’t agree more. He told reporters that Alonso is indeed having a tremendous year. “He’s been an enormous offensive component of our team. Pete has really taken his offensive game to another level, and it’s been fun to see.” And just like that, what started as a season of uncertainty has now turned with Alonso thriving. Plus, if he is healthy, you can be sure that No. 20 will be a big reason the Mets are going to October.

But while all had been going great for Pete Alonso, you have to know baseball doesn’t always work that way.

Pete Alonso still feels awful over Senga’s injury

Thursday night, the New York Mets beat the Nationals 4-3. However, Pete Alonso was not smiling. His throw to first in the sixth inning led to pitcher Kodai Senga landing awkwardly and exiting with a hamstring strain. For Alonso, this moment has hung heavy. No one looked more dejected than he, almost, and no one could find a way to change Alonso’s expression.

In the top of the sixth inning, Luis Garcia Jr. had hit a grounder down the line. Alonso chased it and made a throw to the first, but it sailed a little higher. Senga had to leap to make a play and landed hard on the bag, grabbing his hamstrings. Later, Carlos Mendoza told Alonso that Senga had already felt something before the catch. But even then, Alonso didn’t feel better.

Alonso mentioned, “I still feel awful because, for me, just trying to make a baseball play. Just trying to make a play for my pitcher…I tried to make the best throw I could. It just sucks. I mean, sucks to be involved in that. Senga, he’s one of our guys here and it sucks. You hate to see anyone go down. And yeah, it sucks being a part of that. … I wish it wouldn’t have turned out like that.”

Even the unofficial captains, Lindor and Baty, offered support. But he couldn’t shake the feeling off. But Alonso did appreciate all the support. Still, his point has been, “But I mean, it still doesn’t change the fact of the result of the play…we got the out, but at what cost?”

Think Alonso is being too tough on himself?