Alonso ‘really proud’ of his WBC experience

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Pete Alonso is back from the World Baseball Classic and the Mets’ first baseman believes he’s better prepared for the 2023 season after having played in the tournament.

Alonso returned to spring training Thursday to face the Atlanta Braves on the gulf coast. It was an easy commute from his home in Tampa and gave him a chance to get a day off after USA’S loss to Japan in the Classic’s championship game.

The controversy surrounding the tournament has died down some but you won’t hear any negative thoughts about the game’s premier global event from Alonso, who said he was effusive in his praise for the event.

“I thought it was really, extremely special to play in those high-leverage games,”

Alonso said Thursday at Cooltoday Park. “Especially right out of the chute, I think that experience is going to be super valuable. And also, playing with a bunch of excellent players and getting a chance to do that with my Mets teammates — it’s just a truly, truly incredible experience and I’m really thankful for it.

“I’m really proud of it.” Alonso split time at first base with reigning NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt during the WBC, so he only ended up taking 14 at-bats, and had two hits, a run scored and an RBI in those limited chances. But physically, he feels like he’s right on track with his spring progression.

While Jeff Mcneil and Adam Ottavino opted to stay back in Port St. Lucie during this two-game gulf swing, Alonso opted to make the trip. Playing in Grapefruit League games means won’t get the same amount of at-bats as Mcneil, who had nine of them in Port St. Lucie on Thursday, but there is the potential to face Major League pitching.

Alonso went 0-for-4 with a walk Thursday in the Mets’ 2-2 tie with the Braves and told manager Buck Showalter he had a few pitches he should have taken, but the manager isn’t worried. If anything, coming so close to winning a title has only fueled the fire for this season.

Alonso likened the experience of the WBC to the MLB postseason. Going into the tournament, Alonso was hoping that the intensity and the adrenaline would feel like they did for him in the playoffs and he was proven correct. Having only played in three postseason games in his career, the 28-year-old Alonso learned valuable lessons that he hopes will eventually help him push the Mets deeper into October.