Former Gator Pete Alonso will to compete in Home Run Derby, MLB All-Star Game

Former Florida Gator and current Mets first baseman Pete Alonso will defend his Home Run Derby crown and participate in MLB’s All-Star Game next week in Los Angeles.

Alonso is just the third player in MLB history to win back-to-back Home Run Derby events after taking home the 2019 and 2021 trophies; the 2020 derby was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yoenis Cespedes (2013 & 2014) and Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998 & 1999) are the only other players since the event’s inception in 1985 to win back-to-back events.

Griffey Jr. is the event’s only three-time winner in the event’s history and Alonso is looking to join him as the only three-time champ. If the former Gator wins this year’s event, he would become the first person to win three derbys in a row. The full list of participants will be revealed closer to Monday, July 18th, the date of this year’s event.

Along with attempting to make history, Alonso will also participate in MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 19. He joins Mets teammates Edwin Diaz, Starling Marte and Jeff McNeil as All-Star Games reserves. Alonso is the only former Gator to be named to MLB’s All-Star Game.

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