Scouts discuss if Mets' Pete Alonso is pressing amid walk year

Some scouts believe that All-Star New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is "definitely pressing" as he remains on track to reach free agency after the ongoing season.

"He gets too big with his swing when he tries too hard," one scout recently said about Alonso while speaking with John Harper of SNY. "And he tends to chase the fastball upstairs. When he’s relaxed he’s shorter and quicker to the ball, and the ball jumps off his bat."

Like several Mets players, Alonso struggled at the plate during the spring as the club lost more than it won. While the Amazins later got hot and entered Tuesday in possession of a wild-card playoff berth, Alonso hasn't yet settled into a groove. Across his first 95 games of the season, Alonso batted .240 with 19 home runs, 51 RBI and a .772 OPS.

Alonso hasn't finished a campaign with fewer than 40 homers since he hit 37 back in 2021.

"He gets in his own way at times and overswings," a different scout said about Alonso. "I’ve seen a lot of that this year. I have to think wanting that big contract is a factor."

That scout thought participating in the Home Run Derby on Monday night could provide Alonso with a "confidence boost" that could "jump-start his second half" of the season. However, the "Polar Bear" blasted only 12 home runs en route to suffering a first-round elimination from that competition.

Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor mentioned this past winter that some players can't perform while also worrying about their long-term futures. Alonso confirmed on Monday he doesn't want to go anywhere before the July 30 MLB trade deadline, and logic suggests team owner Steve Cohen won't let president of baseball operations David Stearns shop the fan-favorite as long as the Mets remain a legitimate playoff contender through the end of the month.

The Mets continue to be linked in stories with New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto, and it's unclear if Cohen would pay both Soto and Alonso this coming offseason. While the Mets did well to climb back into the National League's playoff spots despite Alonso's inconsistent play, they'll likely need him to find his best form to give fans an October to remember.