Pete Alonso had a number retired for Mets royalty on Sunday as Dwight Gooden’s No. 16 was unveiled on the left field overhang at Citi Field.
Darryl Strawberry will be happy on June 1, when his No. 18 will be retired.
Alonso, who might be the most likely candidate among current Mets to receive such an honor, was asked if he had ever looked out to left field and imagined his number 20 displayed.
“It would be special,” Alonso told the Post. “But I don’t think that’s at the forefront of my mind because I’m still early in my career and I still want to play as long as those guys.”
Alonso noted that most Mets players with retired numbers were on World Series-winning teams or at least had played in the postseason multiple times with the organization.
And Alonso, who is heading toward free agency, would almost certainly need to extend his relationship with the organization long-term to have a chance of one day having his number retired.
Team owner Steve Cohen said any negotiations with Alonso would only take place after the season.
Alonso said the idea of playing his entire career with the Mets was appealing.
“It’s definitely something I’ve thought about and something that would be incredibly special,” he said. “That’s something that’s extremely rare in today’s game. Very few people can do it.
“It’s very rare that someone starts and finishes with a team like David (Wright). Another one when you think of a local is Derek Jeter – he’s another New York guy. Aaron (judge), and it’s a hard thing to do, not only sign a contract but be successful for that long and be loved and wanted there in a specific place for a long time. But it’s an honor and you have to deserve it, that’s for sure.
Does Alonso feel like he is “loved” by Mets fans?
“One hundred percent,” he said. “But over the time that these guys, with their numbers, have retired, they’ve been doing it a lot longer than I have. For me to think about it, yes, it would be special, but it’s not at the forefront of my mind because I want to play as long as those guys up there.
JD Martinez is expected to return to practice Monday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza, after receiving a cortisone injection last week for tightness in his lower back.
Martinez will likely hit a tee, according to Mendoza, and work to return to minor league games before he can be considered for activation by the Mets.
New York Post
