Texas — Pete Alonso made history at the Home Run Derby, just not enough of it.
Gunning for a third title, which would have tied him with Ken Griffey Jr. for most all time, the Mets first baseman settled for a participation trophy in becoming the eighth slugger to compete in the event at least five times.
Alonso is on a three-Derby losing streak, bowing out quietly with a 12-homer first round Monday at Globe Life Field, where the Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernandez just barely beat out the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. for the crown.
Alonso, who won a competition that seemed to be created for him in 2019 and 2021, has come up empty in each event since.
“I just didn’t think I squared up enough baseballs at the right launch angle,” said Alonso, who was not too beaten up about the loss. “It’s disappointing, but for me, it’s a blessing and it’s just so fun being out here.”
Simply by trying, Alonso was rare.
While other stars might dabble in the Derby but stop after a competition or two — Aaron Judge (2017 champion) and Juan Soto (2022 champion) watched the homers sail from behind first base — Alonso keeps returning.
Only Griffey (eight), Mark McGwire (seven), Barry Bonds (six), Prince Fielder (six), Sammy Sosa (six), David Ortiz (five) and Albert Pujols (five) have participated in as many Derbies.
Alonso brought back his 2021 pitcher, Dave Jauss — the former Mets bench coach who is now an adviser in the Nationals organization — but they could not recapture the magic.
Alonso walked up to the plate to Jose Iglesias’ “OMG,” but hit too many line drives and knocked just nine home runs before the bonus round.
He added three more, peaked with a 446-foot blast, but finished only above Gunnar Henderson in the eight-player field.
“Obviously in it to win it, but it’s always really fun out there,” Alonso said. “I had a blast doing it.”
The new Derby format opened the initial field, getting rid of the head-to-head aspect until the later rounds, and limited hitters to 40 pitches (or three minutes, whichever came first).
In the second round, Witt beat Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, and Hernandez survived a three-swing swing-off to knock out Philadelphia’s Alec Bohm.
In the championship round, Hernandez drilled 14 before Witt reached 13.