116.3! Alonso tops Mets mark ... and homers

October 24th, 2018

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Peter Alonso had a huge season at the plate, leading the Minors in homers and RBIs. And just when it seems like there's nothing he can do to set the bar any higher, he does just that.
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In the first inning of the Scottsdale Scorpions' 10-9 loss to the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League on Wednesday, the Mets' No. 2 prospect lined an RBI double off the left field wall at 116.3 mph, as measured by Statcast™. Not only was that harder than any ball hit by a Mets player this season, it was harder than any ball a Mets player has hit since Statcast™ started tracking data in 2015.

The double was impressive on its own, but Alonso wasn't nearly finished. He blasted a solo homer in the seventh at 113.6 mph and added a single in the eighth (exit velocity 99.3 mph) to finish the game 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
"Just seeing the ball up," Alonso said of his big performance. "During the season, during some rough patches, I was chasing too many pitches down and not capitalizing on some hittable pitches and out here I'm just trying to see the ball where I want it -- up -- and try to capitalize on that pitch."
To put Alonso's day in perspective, there were only four games in the big leagues in 2018 in which a player recorded multiple extra-base hits with exit velocities of 113 mph or higher.
Making Statcast™ history is always impressive, and for Alonso, it's becoming something of a habit. MLB Pipeline's No. 58 overall prospect made waves earlier this season during the Futures Game, when he smashed a two-run homer with an exit velocity of 113.6 mph and a launch angle of 46 degrees. That is the only ball Statcast™ had ever measured with an exit velocity over 113 mph and a launch angle over 40 degrees.

Alonso slashed .285/.395/.579 with 36 homers and 119 RBIs in 132 games across two levels this season and is now hitting .298 with a league-leading four homers in 12 Fall League games.
Desmond Lindsay also showed off some pop with a two-run homer in the top of the second. The Mets' No. 11 prospect hit the ball 111.6 mph and has three homers in five Fall League games after hitting three in 90 games during the regular season.

"I'm really happy for Des, too," Alonso said. "He's having himself a fantastic Fall League. I know he kind of went through some struggles the past couple years and for him to come out here and make the adjustments he has at the plate -- he's doing a hell of a job out here, which is really fun to watch."