Pete Alonso fizzles out at 2024 Home Run Derby

Even Pete Alonso would describe his 2024 Home Run Derby as disappointing.

The former Florida slugger and current New York Met is a staple at the event, but consecutive first-round exits could mean the end of the Polar Bear at the All-Star Weekend event. Alonso hit just 12 homers at Glove Life Park in Arlington, Texas, the second-lowest total by any of the first-round competitors.

Alonso got off to a slow start, hitting just five dingers before using his first timeout with 1:37 left on a 3-minute timer. The brief break didn’t do him much good, though. Alonso only belted four more before time expired. He added three more in bonus time, but it was still far from the 19 he needed to advance to the semifinals.

According to MLB.com, Alonso’s 12 homers averaged 417 feet and a 105.5-mph exit velocity. The hardest ball he hit came off the bat at 109 mph and the farthest ball he hit went 446 feet.

Former Mets bench coach Dave Jauss threw to Alonso. The two struggled to find a rhythm, failing to connect for a home run on 15-straight pitches at on point. Alonso won the event in 2019 and 2021, but he hasn’t been able to tie Ken Griffey Jr. as a three-time champion.

Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm (21), Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez (21), Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. (20) and the Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez (19) advanced to the second round. Texas’ Adolis Garcia (18), Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna (16) and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson (11) were knocked out in the first round along with Alonso.

Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.