Morning Briefing: Alonso Falls Flat in Home Run Derby

Good morning, Mets fans!

In the Home Run Derby, Pete Alonso struggled to find a rhythm and was eliminated in the first round of competition with just 12 home runs, the second-lowest total in the field. After the event, Alonso said he hopes to compete in it again. Alonso is also the Mets’ lone representative in the All-Star Game today, which is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m.

Latest Mets News

Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Monday that Noah Syndergaard is planning to revamp and lose some weight before trying to come back to baseball in 2025. Syndergaard split time between the Dodgers and Guardians in 2023, struggling to an ugly 6.50 ERA with just 56 strikeouts in 88 2/3 innings. Once one of the hardest throwers in the sport, Syndergaard’s fastball averaged just 92.3 miles per hour in 2023.

Before the Home Run Derby, Ken Rosenthal said on FOX Sports that he doesn’t expect the Mets to trade Pete Alonso if they remain in playoff contention. Rosenthal suggested that the Mets could look to trade one of their starting pitchers while looking to upgrade their bullpen.

With the 82nd pick in the MLB Draft, the Mets selected right-hander Nate Dohm from Mississippi State. Dohm posted a 1.23 ERA in 29 1/3 innings in 2024.

With the 111th pick in the draft, the Mets took outfielder Eli Serrano from NC State. Serrano posted an .811 OPS with nine homers in 290 plate appearances this season.

In the fifth round, the Mets picked shortstop Trey Snyder from Liberty North High School in Missouri. The Tennessee commit is the team’s first prep pick of the draft.

With the 173rd pick in the draft, the Mets selected first baseman Corey Collins from the University of Georgia. Collins clubbed 20 homers with a 1.346 OPS in 244 plate appearances for the Bulldogs in 2024.

In the seventh round, the Mets drafted righty Will Watson from the University of Southern California. Watson posted a 3.93 ERA in 50 1/3 innings for the Trojans this year.

With the 233rd pick in the draft, the Mets picked Oklahoma righty Ryan Lambert. The fireballer posted a 2.57 ERA in 21 innings for the Sooners in 2024.

In the ninth round, the Mets selected righty Jaxon Jelkin out of the University of Houston. Jelkin posted a 3.41 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings in 2024, though his season was cut short by arm fatigue.

With their final pick of day two, the Mets drafted another Oklahoma right-hander, Brendan Girton. A transfer from Texas Tech, Girton posted a 7.32 ERA as a senior, but he racked up 47 strikeouts in 35 2/3 innings.

Joey Lucchesi has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Triple-A Syracuse. He was designated for assignment last Tuesday when the Mets acquired Phil Maton.

Latest MLB News

In the final round of the Home Run Derby, Bobby Witt Jr.‘s final swing just missed tying up the competition, banging off the center field wall, giving Teoscar Hernández the victory, 14-13. Hernández is the first Dodgers player to win the competition.

Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan has been added to the NL’s All-Star Game roster, replacing Ryan Helsley. Finnegan has pitched to a 2.45 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 25 saves in 40 1/3 innings.

Latest on MMO

Dom Barone breaks down the Mets’ selection of Nate Dohm.

Andrew Steele-Davis looks back at the Mets’ final series of the first half in the latest 3 Up, 3 Down.

On This Date in Mets History

2006: Down 5-0 to the Cubs after two innings, the Mets get homers from Chris Woodward and Cliff Floyd before exploding for 11 runs in the top of the sixth inning. Floyd and Carlos Beltrán both hit grand slams in the inning, and David Wright caps the rally with a two-run shot as the Mets stomp on the Cubs, 13-7.

2013: Matt Harvey starts the All-Star Game on the mound at Citi Field, tossing two scoreless innings. David Wright goes 1-for-3 at the plate.

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