The "Juan Soto Effect" is in full force for Pete Alonso

The Polar Bear played a big role in securing the series win for the Mets, and he seems to be benefitting from having Juan Soto in the lineup...

Andrew Steele

Apr 03, 2025

What’s up with the Mets? ⚾

The Mets clinched their first series win of 2025 after beating the Marlins 6-5 in extra-innings on Wednesday (box | highlights)
RHP Clay Holmes had an up-and-down night on the mound, but ended his second outing by allowing just two runs - one earned - on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts
1B Pete Alonso was the real hero, blasting a three-run bomb in the eighth to tie the game. He also doubled twice, one of which drove in a run
C Luis Torrens, who had come into the game earlier as a pinch-hitter, made a couple of big-time plays from behind the plate to keep it a tied game in the eighth (watch)
RHP José Buttó delivered two innings of scoreless relief, including stranding the ghost runner in the 10th inning, and after the Mets took a two-run lead in the 11th, LHP Danny Young allowed an RBI single and a walk to put the tying and go-ahead runs on,, but Huascar Brazobán shut the door to earn his first career save with a flyout and a strikeout to end the game
C Hayden Senger recorded his first career hit in the major leagues with a double in the fifth inning
Both Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor both endorsed the idea of the Mets trading for Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara at the Trade Deadline (NY Post)

Roster Moves 📰

1B Jon Singleton and INF Niko Goodrum were both signed to minor league contracts and will report to Triple-A Syracuse

Injury Updates 🏥

RHP Frankie Montas (high-grade lat strain) has resumed throwing from 60 feet and is making encouraging progress

Who’s Hot? 🔥

Over their first six games, Mets starting pitching has a 2.90 ERA. Their relievers have a 1.64 ERA
Pete Alonso has two home runs and seven RBI over his last three games

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Down on the Farm 🌾

RHP Dom Hamel (No. 26 prospect, Triple-A): 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
1B Joey Meneses (Triple-A): 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI

BOX SCORES

Triple-A SYR

Play of the Game 🔥

For much of his career, Pete Alonso has delivered when his team has needed him the most. He’s been able to come through time and time again in clutch situations. That wasn’t the case during the regular season in 2024. He struggled greatly with runners on.

However, on Wednesday, we witnessed the return of the Alonso that can take games over and come up with the big hit at the key moment of the game.

In the top of the eighth with two runners on and two outs, and with the Mets losing 4-1, Alonso stepped up to the plate and launched a 415-foot three-run home run to dead center to tie the game and set the stage for the Mets to come back and win it in extra innings. It was another signature Alonso moment, and the slugger played the role of hero throughout the series in Miami.

Today’s Game 🗓️

The Mets are off today as they return home to New York ready for their 2025 Home Opener against the Blue Jays at Citi Field on Friday.

Pete Alonso is already benefitting from the “Juan Soto effect” ✍️

We spent a lot of the offseason talking about how bringing back Pete Alonso was crucial as it pertained to offering superstar hitter Juan Soto some much-needed protection in the lineup.

Well, as it turns out, Alonso is certainly benefiting from having the luxury of coming up to the plate after Soto, too.

Alonso, after getting off to a slow start in Houston, was lights out in Miami and helped carry the team to a series win.

After hitting a grand slam in Monday’s win, Alonso truly played the role of hero for the Mets on Wednesday night.

He got his team on the board with an RBI double in the first, scoring Soto and proving just how productive the top of that lineup can be. Alonso also hit another double to leadoff the fourth inning.

Then, with the Mets down by three runs in the eighth, and with two outs, Alonso stepped to the plate and proceeded to go to war with Marlins reliever Calvin Faucher. A gritty nine-pitch at-bat developed, before Alonso had enough and blasted a three-run monster home run that travelled 415 feet to tie the game.

Leaving Alonso’s bat at 113.4 mph, it was the very definition of a no-doubter.

Alonso would also score an insurance run in extra innings after drawing a walk, thus ensuring his fingerprints would be found all over this much-needed series win.

He helped spark an offense that was hitting a collective .179 through five games entering Wednesday, while the lineup was just .125 (4-for-32) with runners in scoring position. Furthermore, Alonso put the team on his shoulders when they needed him most in the rubber game. Between defensive errors and going 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving seven runners stranded on base, the Mets were in real danger of dropping their second consecutive series to start 2025.

However, Alonso had other ideas and his eighth inning heroics were a reminder of what he’s capable of when he’s playing at the full peak of his powers.

And herein lies the rub.

It became evident in Miami that having Soto in the lineup will pay dividends for Alonso throughout 2025.

Firstly, Soto has a high chance to get on base every time he steps up to the plate, and he’s likely to wear down the pitcher both mentally and physically in the process. Therefore, by the time Alonso comes to bat, he will, in all probability, have a runner in scoring position and a weakened pitcher to take advantage of.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, there is far less pressure on Alonso with Soto in the lineup. Unlike in 2024, not all of the offensive burden will fall on Alonso’s shoulders, especially in April and May when Francisco Lindor is a non-factor offensively. Soto is the man in this lineup, and on this team, and Alonso can just focus on doing his job.

And that lack of added pressure was on full display in Miami. Alonso was clearly able to relax at the plate and just focus on what he does best. And, by batting after Soto, he’s likely to do more damage when he does come up with a big hit, as was the case throughout Wednesday night. Alonso scored Soto on two of his three hits, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Soto’s presence alone helps Alonso to break triple figures when it comes to RBIs this season.

For the Mets to be successful this year, Alonso needs to be highly productive at the plate, and especially in clutch situations. He delivered time and time again with runners on last night, and that version of Pete Alonso has the potential to wreak gargantuan damage in 2025.

Now hitting .286/.423/.667 with eight RBIs and a team-high four extra-base hits in 21 at-bats, Alonso is clearly thriving with less pressure that comes with having a generational hitter in Soto in the lineup.

Let’s just call it the ‘Juan Soto Effect’, and let’s hope it continues to lead to high levels of success for Alonso the rest of the way.

Around the League 🚩

Jackson Merrill signed a nine-year, $135 million extension with the Padres, and he celebrated by hitting a home run on the same day as San Diego improved to 7-0 for the first time in franchise history
On a big day for extensions in MLB, the Red Sox signed prospect infielder Kristian Campbell to a eight-year, $60 million contract
The Diamondbacks also signed star second baseman Ketel Marte to a six-year extension that is worth a guaranteed $116.5 million
The Dodgers acquired CF Esteury Ruiz from the A’s. Ruiz stole an AL-leading 67 bases in 2023
Shohei Ohtani hit a walk-off home run to help the Dodgers beat the Braves and extend their perfect start to 2025, and to extend the Braves season-opening losing streak to seven games
Rafael Devers snapped his 0-for-21 streak to the season with an RBI double against the Orioles, while Garrett Crochet delivered eight scoreless innings with eight strikeouts
Zac Gallen struckout a career-high 13 hitters to help the D-Backs beat the Yankees, 4-3
Zack Wheeler delivered 10 strikeouts and 25 swings and misses - the most by any pitcher in baseball this season - as the Phillies beat the Rockies