#Pete Alonso is ‘geeked up’ for baseball’s long-awaited return

Pete Alonso concluded a Zoom call Tuesday by stepping into the opposite role and asking reporters if they were glad baseball had returned.

It was clear where the Mets first baseman stood.

“I’m geeked up to play,” Alonso said following a workout at Citi Field. “Ultimately, I know I’m not the only one that feels this way. Yes, all of us are baseball players, that is our job, but ultimately before we were baseball players we were fans of the game of baseball and I feel that all of us just love the game.

“Yes, there’s some extra steps we have to take, but this is something I am really passionate about. And guys that are in that clubhouse, they are very passionate as well. I am so amped up and so excited to play.”

Alonso established an MLB rookie record last year of 53 homers and was named NL Rookie of the Year. In this 60-game season, he won’t get the opportunity to shoot for last year’s homer total, but success can be measured in other ways.

Just getting on the field and giving New York something to cheer about, even in a ballpark without fans, is that first step.

“I know that every single New York Mets fan is going to be watching at home,” he said. “You could have hundreds of thousands of people, putting a smile on their face every single night and now we’re going to be one of the first sports back and I’m just so excited.”

Alonso mentioned the thrill of Jacob deGrom striking out the side or Yoenis Cespedes hitting a ball into the seats.

“That is going to make so many people happy and I feel right now as a whole, people kind of need something to lean on, to help cope,” Alonso said. “I am really excited that we’re going to be able to give back and be able to put smiles on fans’ faces and play the game we love.”

Among the intriguing possibilities is a lineup that includes Alonso and Cespedes for the first time. Cespedes, who is approaching the two-year anniversary of his last appearance for the Mets, has been hitting and shagging flies in this camp, but is still waiting to test his surgically repaired heels on the bases.

Manager Luis Rojas’ lineup could include Jeff McNeil, Alonso, Michael Conforto and Cespedes hitting in succession atop the order.

“[Cespedes] is just this absolutely incredible baseball player,” Alonso said. “I was fortunate enough to watch him play coming up and seeing what he can do to a baseball and how he can just pulverize, absolutely send a ball over the fence to all fields. … He is a great baseball player and that’s just a hell of a bat to have in the lineup. Advantage us.”

Alonso said his appreciation for the game has grown following a 3 ½-month layoff. He said his first act upon taking the field for the start of workouts was to touch the dirt around first base just to ensure it was real.

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“I love the game, it means so much to me, and I feel like I’m not the only one that feels that way,” Alonso said. “Baseball is so much more than a sport, not just to us players and the teams but for so many other fans and fans of baseball around the world.”

Alonso, Conforto, McNeil, Dominic Smith, J.D. Davis and Brandon Nimmo are components of a tight-knit clubhouse culture that emphasizes fun and celebration on the field. Walkoff celebrations late last season were punctuated by a player delivering the winning hit getting his jersey torn off. Such displays won’t be allowed amid social distancing measures, but Alonso expects the Mets to find alternative outlets for celebrating.

“We have a real good chemistry, we have some good things going in the clubhouse and we’ll figure something out,” Alonso said. “You will see some fun antics during the season. We don’t know what yet, but it’s got to come out naturally.”