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What's happening with Pete Alonso? The 3-week nightmare has Mets fans worried.

What’s happening with Pete Alonso? The 3-week nightmare has Mets fans worried.

Pete Alonso was once the centerpiece of optimism in what had been an up-and-down season for the New York Mets. A powerful force in the heart of the lineup and a fan favorite, Alonso had been thriving through the early months of 2025, even appearing to justify his one-year, self-bet contract aimed at maximizing value ahead of free agency. But now, after a historically bad July, concerns are mounting—not only for his performance but also for his future with the franchise.

A Promising Start to 2025

Coming into the 2025 season, Alonso had much to prove. The 30-year-old slugger made headlines in the offseason by signing a one-year deal to stay in Queens, reportedly with an eye toward boosting his free agent value for a long-term contract—either with the Mets or elsewhere.

Early returns looked promising. Alonso came out swinging, literally and figuratively, blasting through April with an impressive display of power and consistency. He hit for average, showed plate discipline, and once again established himself as one of the league’s top run producers. By early July, he was batting .290 with a .934 OPS. His impact was measurable, not just in home runs but in leadership and clutch moments.

image_688d8b17a83fd What's happening with Pete Alonso? The 3-week nightmare has Mets fans worried.

A July Collapse of Historic Proportions

Then came the collapse.

Pete Alonso closed out July batting a dismal .141 with a .548 OPS, shocking for a player of his caliber. Even more concerning, that .141 figure includes a hot start to the month in which he hit .280 with a 1.099 OPS over the first seven games. It was the final 17 games of July where the bottom truly fell out.

During that stretch, Alonso batted just .083 with a .312 OPS, and his final numbers for the month were historically bad. According to Justin Havens of Underdog Fantasy, Alonso’s .141 average marked the lowest for any Mets player in July with a minimum of 80 plate appearances since Jerry Grote hit .138 back in 1966—a 59-year-old record.

To make matters worse, Alonso ended the month on an 0-for-17 cold streak, looking lost at the plate and visibly frustrated in each at-bat. His body language—normally confident and focused—turned tense and anxious. Strikeouts mounted. Weak contact became routine. The crowd that once cheered his every swing now sat in uncomfortable silence.

Numbers Don’t Lie, But They Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Despite the July nosedive, Alonso’s overall season stats remain respectable. He is still batting .259 with an .842 OPS, along with 21 home runs, 25 doubles, and 75 RBIs through 92 games. His 2.4 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) suggests he remains an above-average contributor. In fact, if he maintains his current trajectory, he could exceed his full-season production from 2024.

But these totals mask the sharp and sudden decline that has Mets fans and analysts scratching their heads. In the 17-game stretch to close July, Alonso managed just one home run, one double, and six RBIs. For a player known for prolific power, that level of drought is almost unheard of.

What’s Causing the Slump?

Slumps happen. Even the best hitters go through extended dry spells. But Alonso’s July swoon feels different. It’s not just the numbers—it’s the way he looks at the plate. He’s chasing pitches out of the zone, swinging late on fastballs he typically crushes, and failing to adjust to breaking balls.

There’s also speculation that mental fatigue could be playing a role. The weight of betting on himself—combined with the looming decisions about his future—might be affecting his focus. The pressure to deliver, especially in a contract year, is immense.

Pitchers, too, have adapted. Alonso is seeing fewer fastballs in the strike zone and a growing number of sliders and off-speed pitches low and away. And instead of laying off and working counts like he did earlier in the season, he’s pressing, trying to force the issue with every swing.

The Bigger Picture: Mets and Alonso’s Future

The Mets’ 2025 season has been full of highs and lows, but Alonso’s slump comes at a critical juncture. New York remains in the playoff hunt, though every game now carries more weight. The team needs its stars to perform—and no one is more central to their offensive identity than Pete Alonso.

If Alonso’s cold streak continues deep into August, it raises serious questions about what the Mets should do next. Will he bounce back in time to help the team push for the postseason? Or will his summer swoon linger long enough to alter how management views his long-term role?

There’s also the issue of his $24 million player option for the 2026 season. Given his earlier production, Alonso may have been poised to decline the option and test the free-agent market for a multi-year payday. But now? That option might become a security blanket—both for him and for the Mets.

If Alonso ends the season underperforming, he might struggle to attract the lucrative long-term offers he envisioned. In that case, picking up the player option might be the safer move, giving him one more year to re-establish his value.

image_688d8b18187b3 What's happening with Pete Alonso? The 3-week nightmare has Mets fans worried.

A Test of Mental Fortitude

No one questions Pete Alonso’s talent. He has been one of the most productive power hitters in baseball since debuting in 2019. He’s a five-time All-Star, a locker room leader, and one of the most respected voices in the Mets organization.

But this stretch is a test of something different: his ability to fight through adversity.

Baseball seasons are long and brutal. Every player deals with slumps, but how one responds defines their legacy. Can Alonso regain his confidence? Will he adjust at the plate, simplify his approach, and rediscover the swing that made him a household name?

Alonso’s track record suggests he can. He has reinvented himself before—most recently with his hot start this season—and has always shown a willingness to put in the work. The coming weeks will be crucial. The Mets need him, and he needs to remind everyone exactly who he is.

Final Thoughts

Pete Alonso’s July was a nightmare—one of the worst single-month performances in New York Mets history. But baseball is a game of streaks, and as quickly as a player falls into a slump, he can emerge from it just as fast.

For the Mets, Alonso’s bat is still central to their hopes. If he turns it around in August and beyond, July will be remembered as just a blip. If not, the repercussions could extend far beyond this season—impacting contracts, careers, and the Mets’ immediate future.

Pete Alonso bet on himself this year. Now, in the face of a career-worst stretch, he must dig deep and prove that bet was still a smart one.