Brandon Nimmo has been with Pete Alonso from the start.
When Alonso made his MLB debut in 2019, Nimmo was already an established veteran who, too, had come up through the Mets organization as a touted prospect.
Alonso, 30, and Nimmo, 32, have been two of the franchise’s faces in the seven years since, enduring their share of losing seasons before helping to lead the Mets to the NLCS last year.
It was fitting, then, that Nimmo was on first base Tuesday when Alonso hit the 253rd home run of his career, breaking a tie with Daryl Strawberry to set the Mets’ all-time record.
“I’m just really proud of him,” Nimmo said after the Mets’ 13-5 win over the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. “And to reach this mark at such a young stage, I can’t wait to see what he sets this mark at for good.”
Nimmo witnessed Alonso’s historic first season in 2019, when the fan-favorite first baseman hit 53 home runs to set a rookie record.
He watched as well when Alonso clubbed 37 homers in 2021; 40 in 2022; and 46 in 2023.
“Guys come up and they have success right away, but then is it sustainable? In those first three seasons, when he was still doing it at a great pace and a record pace, you kind of know that this is no joke,” Nimmo said.
“And also when you watch him go about his work and you watch him hit the ball, you just see how easy it is for him. You just know that that’s repeatable.”
Alonso demonstrated the repeatability of his power on Tuesday night. After he broke the Mets’ franchise record in the third inning against Braves starter Spencer Strider, Alonso struck another home run in the sixth against reliever Austin Cox for No. 254 of his career.
But there was a point last winter where Tuesday’s feats looked like they might not happen.
Alonso endured a prolonged free agency before ultimately re-signing with the Mets on a two-year, $54 million contract that he can opt out of after this season.
Nimmo recalls having conversations with Alonso last winter, reassuring the first baseman that the team wanted him back. Nimmo believes the chance to add on to his legacy could play a role in Alonso’s potential free agency this offseason.
“I know it was a motivating factor for me, so if it was a motivating factor for me coming back, then it’ll be a motivating factor for him,” said Nimmo, who signed an eight-year, $162 million deal before the 2023 season to stay with the Mets.
“There’s only one organization that you’re drafted by. There’s only one organization that you come up with and set these marks with. To have to restart is not something everyone wants to do.”
Nimmo helped preserve Alonso’s special night on Tuesday.
After the Braves erased a four-run deficit to tie the game, 5-5, against Clay Holmes in the top of the fourth, Nimmo hit a go-ahead three-run homer against Strider in the bottom of the inning.
Nimmo was in an 0-for-20 slide before he singled in the third and homered in the fourth. Nimmo’s homer was one of six by the Mets, who snapped a seven-game losing streak.
“We all just want to do our part in helping the team win, and I felt like that was extremely evident [on Tuesday],” Nimmo said.
After hitting No. 253, Alonso hugged Nimmo near home plate. Alonso then celebrated with the rest of his teammates before earning the first of two curtain calls on Tuesday night.
“I thought it was just a really special moment between him and the fans, and their appreciation for him,” Nimmo said. “And they should appreciate him. “He’s brought so many great memories to Mets fans over the years. We’ve got more to come.”
