To start 2026, the New York Mets offense has been up and down. In their first game, they scored 11 runs to defeat the Pittsburgh Pirates. Then, in the next game, the Mets went to 11 innings and would score four runs to beat the Pirates. The Mets started 3-1 before losing three straight, in which they would score just three runs. Finally, the Mets exploded for a 10-3 win against the San Francisco Giants. If they shown one thing, it is that life after the Pete Alonso era is going different, but a certain player might be able to pick up the slack.
Do the Mets Already Have a Pete Alonso Replacement?
The Dominant Power of Pete Alonso May Be Missed, But Not Irreplaceable
From 2019-2025, the Mets saw Alonso pretty much dominant the MLB. He exploded onto the scene in the majors, slugging 53 homers in his rookie season, which still stands as the record for the most homers ever by a rookie. In 2020 and 2021, Alonso wasn’t as dominant, but was still good. In 2022, he would still hit 40 home runs, but also bat .271 with a stunning 131 RBIs. Alonso continued to put up great numbers with 46 homers in 2023 but with a .217 average. In 2024, he didn’t do too well, batting .240 with 34 homers and just 88 RBIs in 162 games.
But even then, Alonso bounced back with a 38-homer, 126 RBI season that also saw him bat a career best .272. The Mets however clearly weren’t interested in paying Alonso after 2025, and allowed the power-hitting first baseman to walk. This wasn’t all, as the Mets also traded away Brandon Nimmo and Jeff McNeil, and finally lost Edwin Diaz to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Alonso’s power in New York is definitely going to be hard to replace, but not impossible with all of this being said. Not to mention, in his seven years in Flushing, the Mets made the postseason just twice.
Recent Performance By Potential Superstar Shows That Such Power is Possible to Replace
Francisco Alvarez is probably no longer seen as one of the best catchers in the sport, and wasn’t even ranked in the top 10 in the MLB Network position list. However, such a take is extremely misinformed. Alvarez is still just 24 years old, which is the year many stars make their debuts.
Recently at the Giants, Alvarez hit his 50th career homer and still hit another one 400 ft for his second of the game. So far, in eight games, Alvarez has three home runs and a .286 average, and he is picking off right where he left off from in 2025. Alvarez struggled pretty immensely in the first part of 2025 before being sent down to Triple-A, dominating, and then being brought back up.
In his final 40 games, Alvarez slugged eight homers with an average above .300. Really, in his career, Alvarez has just struggled to stay healthy. Last year, Alvarez played in just 76 games, where he still hit 11 home runs with a .256 average. A healthy season for Alvarez could easily mean that the Mets have found a replacement for Alonso’s power. It would be absolutely stunning to see Alvarez hit anything under 20 shots in 2026 if he stays healthy. In other words, the potential superstar has easily the capability of 30+ home runs.
The Mets Offense Hasn’t Sniffed It’s Potential
Okay, maybe it has. But, New York’s first eight games have fans screaming that the team is no different then in 2025. The reality is though, the growing pains are set to disappear soon it feels like. Bo Bichette is starting to hit, and so is Francisco Lindor. Juan Soto is well, Juan Soto.
The Mets have seen others struggle, such as Marcus Semien, but even he finally hit a two-run shot that felt like a burden being lifted off of his back. Luis Robert Jr. is a X-factor that continues to hit well. Mark Vientos, who had a horrible spring training, suddenly has put himself in a starting position with a really good series so far against the Giants.
In the first eight games, it has been an up and down experience for the hitting side of things for New York. However, even with the missed power of Alonso, there are several bats that can feel that void, including Alvarez. Once things clear up and the Mets start to wake up, the team will explode, and the bats of guys like Alvarez will help lead the way.
Main Image: Matt Marton-Imagn Images
