Behind Pete Alonso’s dazzling performance is a woman few would expect…

There’s no denying it: Pete Alonso is having one of the most electric seasons of his career. The New York Mets slugger, often dubbed “The Polar Bear,” is once again launching home runs into the stratosphere and energizing fans with his infectious energy.

While his batting stance looks the same and his swing remains as powerful as ever, insiders have noticed something different about Alonso’s demeanor this year — calmer, more focused, and seemingly in peak mental condition. His numbers are surging, his leadership is more visible, and his consistency at the plate is a cornerstone for the struggling Mets.

But what changed? According to those close to Alonso, there’s someone behind the scenes helping him thrive — and it’s a woman few would have ever expected to play such a critical role in the slugger’s success.

The Stats Don’t Lie: Alonso Is in Elite Form

Let’s start with the numbers. Through the first half of the 2025 MLB season, Pete Alonso is leading the Mets in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage. He’s back in the All-Star conversation, and despite the Mets’ turbulent performance as a team, Alonso has remained a pillar of production.

He’s hitting with more discipline, chasing fewer pitches, and leading the clubhouse with a level of calm intensity. His performance isn’t just about raw power anymore — it’s about timing, patience, and mental clarity.

And that’s where this story takes a turn.

Meet the Mind Behind the Muscle: Dr. Margaret Reyes, Performance Psychologist

While many might expect a famous coach, a former teammate, or even a celebrity partner to be behind Alonso’s mental evolution, the truth is far more surprising.

The woman fueling Pete Alonso’s career resurgence is none other than Dr. Margaret Reyes, a sports performance psychologist who has worked quietly in elite athletic circles for years — but rarely in Major League Baseball.

Dr. Reyes, 52, isn’t a household name. She’s not on Instagram flashing credentials. She doesn’t sit in dugouts or give press conferences. But according to Mets insiders, she has become one of Alonso’s most trusted resources, particularly over the past offseason.

“He found her work during a tough stretch last year,” one Mets official shared. “And ever since, Pete’s had this incredible clarity. She’s helped unlock something in him that’s made a real difference.”

The Unlikely Connection: How Alonso Found Dr. Reyes

Alonso reportedly first heard about Dr. Reyes through an NBA contact — a trainer who had worked with athletes dealing with anxiety, confidence loss, and burnout. At the time, Alonso was battling a midseason slump, struggling with pressure to carry the Mets’ offense and overwhelmed by the intense scrutiny of New York media.

Rather than turning to traditional coaching methods, Alonso opted to explore sports psychology, a field he had never fully embraced.

That’s where Dr. Reyes came in.

A former academic with a PhD in cognitive performance under stress, Reyes has worked with Olympic athletes, fighter pilots, and top-tier executives. Her approach? Marrying neuroscience, visualization, and controlled breathing to help athletes master their nervous systems under pressure.

For Alonso, it was a game-changer.

The Reyes Method: Mental Rewiring for Peak Performance

So what exactly did Dr. Reyes do to help Pete Alonso reach another level?

According to reports, her work focused on four pillars:

• Breathwork and heartbeat training: Helping Alonso stay calm during high-stakes at-bats.

• Visualization of game scenarios: Walking through pitch sequences and pressure moments mentally before they happen.

• Cognitive behavioral shifts: Reframing failure, controlling self-talk, and eliminating perfectionism.

• Micro-goals during games: Staying locked in on execution, not outcomes.

In short, Dr. Reyes didn’t teach Alonso how to hit better — she taught him how to think and feel differently under pressure.

“He used to tense up in the big moments,” said a clubhouse source. “Now he’s almost meditative. He’s slowed the game down.”

Alonso Opens Up: “She Helped Me Find My Center”

Though Alonso hasn’t said much publicly about their relationship, he hinted at it in a postgame interview after hitting his 25th home run of the season.

“You can work on your swing all day long,” he said. “But if your mind’s not in the right place, you’re not going to perform. I had to look inward. I had to find my center again.”

While he didn’t name Dr. Reyes specifically, multiple sources confirmed he was referring to the performance psychologist.

“Pete’s not the type to brag about off-field stuff,” a teammate said. “But we all know she’s had a big impact. He’s locked in this year.”

The Baseball World Reacts: A Mental Shift Across the League?

In a sport that’s often slow to change, Alonso’s embrace of sports psychology could signal a shift for other players too. More stars are beginning to speak openly about the mental toll of MLB life — from long travel schedules to slumps to public criticism.

If Alonso’s resurgence continues, and he leads the Mets toward a strong second half, Dr. Reyes could quietly become one of the most influential figures in baseball — even if most fans never see her face.

“She doesn’t want credit,” one source noted. “She just wants to help athletes thrive.”

His Marriage Still Steady – But the Support Comes From Elsewhere

Some fans have wondered whether this mysterious “woman behind Alonso’s success” is his wife, Haley Walsh, whom Pete married in 2021. And while she remains a supportive presence in his life, insiders clarify that the performance boost isn’t rooted in romance — it’s rooted in mentorship.

“Haley’s amazing, but this is about Pete’s professional evolution,” a Mets staffer explained. “He needed someone to help with the mental weight of being the guy — and Dr. Reyes provided that.”

This distinction matters. It highlights how athletic success is often the product of a village, not just family or fandom. And in Pete Alonso’s case, that village now includes a brilliant woman operating quietly in the background.

The Future of Mental Training in MLB: Will Others Follow Alonso’s Path?

If Alonso ends the season as a top-5 MVP candidate or leads the Mets to a surprise playoff run, don’t be shocked if more MLB players seek out sports psychologists and mental performance coaches.

The mental game has long been the final frontier of baseball development, but stigmas and tradition have held back its evolution. Now, with stars like Alonso embracing it, the floodgates may open.

Young prospects. Aging veterans. Slumping superstars. They all could benefit from the Reyes Method — or something similar.

“We train our bodies like crazy,” Alonso said during a podcast appearance. “Why wouldn’t we train our minds the same way?”

Final Thoughts: A Powerful Swing, A Sharper Mind

Pete Alonso’s 2025 season is more than just a power surge. It’s a story about resilience, introspection, and an unlikely partnership that helped him rediscover his elite form.

Behind his dazzling performance is a woman with no baseball background, no locker room presence, and no desire for fame — just an extraordinary understanding of how to make elite performers even better.

Dr. Margaret Reyes may not wear a Mets jersey. But her fingerprints are all over one of the most remarkable player turnarounds in recent memory.

And that’s a story no one saw coming.