Pete Alonso stands alone.
The New York Mets first baseman hit his 53rd home run of 2019 on Saturday against the Atlanta Braves to set the single-season record by a rookie.
Alonso brought a raucous crowd at Citi Field to its feet when he drove a 92.8-mph fastball from Mike Foltynewicz into the center-field stands to break Aaron Judge's 2017 mark.
The most homers EVER by a rookie.
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2019
Take it all in, @Pete_Alonso20. pic.twitter.com/mfVA5UESx9
''It's surreal. It was almost like an out-of-body experience,'' Alonso said, according to The Associated Press. ''Unbelievable moment.
''This is more than a dream. This is more than fantasy. I can't put it into words.''
After receiving a standing ovation from the fans at his home ballpark, Alonso could be seen crying tears of joy in the top half of the next inning.
''I was just kind of thinking about all the greats in the game of baseball," Alonso said. "I was thinking about guys like Babe Ruth, Ted Williams, guys like Aaron Judge, and the fact that I'm ahead of those guys as a rookie, it's mind-blowing.''
The 24-year-old leads all of MLB in round-trippers.
Alonso almost didn't make the big-league team out of spring training because of service-time consideration but went on to become an All-Star, win the Home Run Derby, and set the Mets' single-season home run record. He's the clear front-runner for National League Rookie of the Year.
