Fansided

MLB awards watch: National League MVP race

By William Schneiderhan

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) hits a single during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals on April 14, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 14: Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon (6) hits a single during the game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Nationals on April 14, 2019, at Nationals Park, in Washington D.C. (Photo by Mark Goldman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 16: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on April 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 16: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets in action against the Philadelphia Phillies during a game at Citizens Bank Park on April 16, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

3. Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

.306 BA, 8 HR (T-6th), 21 RBI (T-3rd), 1.086 OPS (5th) and 1.2 WAR (T-6th).

If you’re a New York Mets fan, you know just how important Pete Alonso has been to the team early this season. Brodie Van Wagenen gave the rookie the chance to win the first-base battle in Spring Training. Alonso did just that, so Van Wagenen bucked the current trend of sending prospects down for a few weeks to gain the extra year of club control and awarded Alonso the Major League job.

How has Alonso done? As evidenced in his numbers above, he has torn the cover off of the ball. He has been a key piece in the team’s lineup, and he has also held his own defensively after the Mets led fans to believe he was a butcher.

Alonso has hit for average, hit for power and he has demonstrated patience at the plate. His slugging percentage (.682) is fifth in the NL and his eight doubles are tied for fourth. He has 16 extra-base hits, 27 punch outs and 12 walks.

The rookie has cooled off over the past 15 games, but he is still getting on base and producing runs. He has a hard-contact percentage of 48.3 percent, and an average-exit velocity of 91.7 mph. He has also shown an uncanny ability to barrel the ball up, as he is third in all of baseball with a barrel percentage of 25.9.

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