No one knows what Pete Alonso is feeling right now more than Aaron Judge, and there might not be a bigger fan of the Mets 1B than the Yankees RF for the 2019 campaign's final two games.
After the rising Mets star tied the face of the Yankees' single-season rookie home run record set in 2017 with Friday's first-inning solo shot during the Mets' 4-2 win over the Atlanta Braves to reach 52 on the year, Judge was asked about Alonso's feat.
Not only is Judge happy for Alonso, but he hopes he breaks the record entirely at some point over the weekend -- the Mets play two more game against the Braves, Saturday and Sunday, in the team's three-game series to close the regular season.
"No better person to share it with," Judge said Friday after the Yankees' 14-7 win over the Texas Rangers. "He's eventually going to break it. I know that, for sure."
Judge said he met Alonso in 2019 and got to know his crosstown counterpart after the rookie made a splash with the Mets.
"I'm happy for him, man -- I got a chance to meet him this year and talk with him a little bit, and no better individual to represent not only the Mets, but the city of New York," Judge said of Alonso. "He's going to a lot of special things over his long career. So I'm excited for him, man. It's just the beginning for him and the first of many records he's going to break."
As he chased Judge's record, Alonso followed the Yankee's footsteps July 8 with his triumphant win over Toronto Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. for the 2019 Home Run Derby at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
Two years ago, Judge did the same as a rookie when he won the 2017 Home Run Derby at Marlins Field in Miami with his show-stealing victory against Minnesota Twins 3B Miguel Sano.
Judge has seen the rookie-season parallels to Alonso, who quickly became the face of the Mets and a proven leader in the clubhouse -- like he did during his breakout year with the Yankees.
"We've got a lot to focus on over here, so I haven't really paid too much attention to (Alonso's home runs)," Judge said. "But I knew it was going to happen eventually. Just the type of swing he has and watching some of his at-bats earlier in the year, I was like, 'OK, this kid, this one's special. He's got something about him.' You saw his grit and determination in that home run derby, too. He's got that 'it' factor."
Aaron Judge gives some dap to Pete Alonso, who tied Judge's MLB rookie record by hitting his 52nd home run of the season on Friday. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/Jgi1GCNwNC
- YES Network (@YESNetwork) September 28, 2019
Despite getting eliminated from the playoffs after coming up short of the NL Wild Card, while the Yankees face Twins next Friday in the ALDS, the Mets and Alonso still have more to play for.
Having gone through the sequence before, Judge gave insight into what Alonso might be thinking with two games left to get the record -- one Judge already believes Alonso has in the bag.
"There's no pressure -- it's all fun," Judge said. "Go out there and let's see what can happen. Especially what was great about my situation, we were still climbing for a playoff push. So my situation was, 'I'm going to get as many homers as I can and help us win some ballgames.' So I think Pete's trying to do the same thing -- he's trying to help his team win and if he hits a homer, he's happy about it. But no, it's a special accomplishment because it's a long season, he has a lot of ups and downs throughout the year. You have a lot of moments where you have bad stretches, good stretches. But at the end, that's what a season for him this year."
