Mets' Pete Alonso to launch NFT, with proceeds helping minor leaguers

Taijuan Walker sold NFT earlier this month

3/29/2021, 9:32 PM
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Pete Alonso is the latest Met to join the NFT trend.

Alonso will launch his nonfungible token on Tuesday through Blockparty with proceeds going to two charities: his own, Homers for Heroes, and More Than Baseball -- a charity that helps minor leaguers who need financial support with housing, equipment, and more to get through the grinds of the minor league season.

"I was a minor leaguer. I know how hard it is on 12-hour bus trips," Alonso told ESPN. "If you're not on the 40-man roster or you're just a regular minor leaguer without any big league team, you're making around $2.85 an hour when it comes down to brass tacks. To be able to raise funds and help out guys that need it, that are extremely talented because there's big league talent all throughout the minor leagues, I'm very thankful."

Because the minor league season was cancelled last year due to the ongoing pandemic, thousands of baseball players were out of jobs. That urged Alonso to team up with More Than Baseball.

"There's guys on my team were like, they're going on eBay to buy their cleats," said Alonso. "They're grinding, trying to figure out how they're going to get their next shipment of bats. Because if you're not a prospect or drafted very high, it takes like six to eight weeks to get your wood in. And then you could be, you can either not have bags, not have proper equipment."

Mets pitcher Taijuan Walker found success selling his own NFT earlier this month, with those proceeds going to the Amazin' Mets Foundation.

Tommy Wilson, a player in the Mets' farm system, designed the art of the NFT.

Alonso said he's not sure if NFTs are "the future," but is excited to "test the waters."

"I mean, for me ... this is just something that I want to do for fun and also help others out, which I'm really excited about. It's going to be interesting. ... It's kind of like a little test run," he said.

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