Brandon Nimmo has been with Pete Alonso from the beginning.
When Alonso made his MLB debut in 2019, Nimmo was already a longtime veteran who, too, had come up by way of the Mets group as a touted prospect.
Alonso, 30, and Nimmo, 32, have been two of the franchise’s faces within the seven years since, enduring their share of dropping seasons earlier than serving to to guide the Mets to the NLCS final yr.
It was becoming, then, that Nimmo was on first base Tuesday when Alonso hit the 253rd dwelling run of his profession, breaking a tie with Daryl Strawberry to set the Mets’ all-time file.
“I’m just really proud of him,” Nimmo stated after the Mets’ 13-5 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citi Subject. “And to reach this mark at such a young stage, I can’t wait to see what he sets this mark at for good.”
Nimmo witnessed Alonso’s historic first season in 2019, when the fan-favorite first baseman hit 53 dwelling runs to set a rookie file.
He watched as properly when Alonso clubbed 37 homers in 2021; 40 in 2022; and 46 in 2023.
“Guys come up and they have success right away, but then is it sustainable? In those first three seasons, when he was still doing it at a great pace and a record pace, you kind of know that this is no joke,” Nimmo stated.
“And also when you watch him go about his work and you watch him hit the ball, you just see how easy it is for him. You just know that that’s repeatable.”
Alonso demonstrated the repeatability of his energy on Tuesday night time. After he broke the Mets’ franchise file within the third inning in opposition to Braves starter Spencer Strider, Alonso struck one other dwelling run within the sixth in opposition to reliever Austin Cox for No. 254 of his profession.
However there was some extent final winter the place Tuesday’s feats appeared like they won’t occur.
Alonso endured a protracted free company earlier than finally re-signing with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract that he can choose out of after this season.
Nimmo recollects having conversations with Alonso final winter, reassuring the primary baseman that the group needed him again. Nimmo believes the possibility so as to add on to his legacy may play a task in Alonso’s potential free company this offseason.
“I know it was a motivating factor for me, so if it was a motivating factor for me coming back, then it’ll be a motivating factor for him,” stated Nimmo, who signed an eight-year, $162 million deal earlier than the 2023 season to stick with the Mets.
“There’s only one organization that you’re drafted by. There’s only one organization that you come up with and set these marks with. To have to restart is not something everyone wants to do.”
Nimmo helped protect Alonso’s particular night time on Tuesday.
After the Braves erased a four-run deficit to tie the sport, 5-5, in opposition to Clay Holmes within the prime of the fourth, Nimmo hit a go-ahead three-run homer in opposition to Strider within the backside of the inning.
Nimmo was in an 0-for-20 slide earlier than he singled within the third and homered within the fourth. Nimmo’s homer was one in every of six by the Mets, who snapped a seven-game dropping streak.
“We all just want to do our part in helping the team win, and I felt like that was extremely evident [on Tuesday],” Nimmo stated.
After hitting No. 253, Alonso hugged Nimmo close to dwelling plate. Alonso then celebrated with the remainder of his teammates earlier than incomes the primary of two curtain calls on Tuesday night time.
“I thought it was just a really special moment between him and the fans, and their appreciation for him,” Nimmo stated. “And they should appreciate him. “He’s brought so many great memories to Mets fans over the years. We’ve got more to come.”
