New York Mets rookie Pete Alonso won the Home Run Derby on Monday night and has promised to donate 10% of his $1 million winnings to charity.
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso went to Cleveland with a major goal in mind. He wanted to win the Home Run Derby and take home the $1 million award that came along with the trophy.
Polar Bear Pete achieved that goal and he made another decision that shows why he is the talk of New York City.
Alonso announced that he would donate 10% of his winnings to charity, sending 5% to the Wounded Warrior Project and the other 5% to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
“I respect anyone who puts their life on the line every single day, going to work knowing that they may have to make the ultimate sacrifices,” Alonso said via Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. “There are people that are making sacrifices every single day abroad keeping us free and then there are people at home keeping us safe.”
Alonso defeated Vladimir Guerrero Jr. by belting 23 home runs in the final round and taking home the trophy by a margin of one. Alonso became the second rookie ever to win the event joining New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge who won in 2017.
Alonso’s total of 57 homers was the third most ever hit in a Derby. Ironically enough, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who Alonso beat in the final round, set the record for most home runs in the Home Run Derby with 91. Additionally, Joc Pederson, who only hit in two rounds, outpaced Alonso with 60 home runs on the night.
However, Alonso only needed to hit one more home run than whoever he was facing and he did just that.
