After late pitcher switch, Mets' Pete Alonso eliminated from Home Run Derby by Julio Rodriguez's record first round

SEATTLE — Pete Alonso’s bid for a third Home Run Derby title got off to a somewhat disappointing start Monday afternoon when the Mets slugger revealed that his sentimental choice for pitching duties, Mike Friedlein, his Tampa travel ball coach, had to bow out because of a forearm injury that flared up while throwing to him over the weekend in San Diego.

Then again, it probably wouldn’t have mattered who pitched to Alonso, because he got the wrong foe at the wrong time in the Mariners’ Julio Rodriguez. The hometown favorite — his swings fueled by loud roars and “Ju-li-o” chants — hammered an incredible 41 homers, a single-round record, to knock off Alonso, who hit 21.

Only the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia, the No. 4 seed, had fewer, with 17 in the first round.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. — whom Alonso beat in 2019 for his first title — won Monday’s crown by edging Randy Arozarena, 25-23, in the final. Vladimir Guerrero Sr. won the Derby in 2007.

“Unfortunately, I ran into a buzzsaw,” Alonso said. “I mean, he had a ridiculously historic round. That was incredible to watch. Good for him and good for Seattle. It’s awesome.”

Alonso had made a childhood promise to Friedlein that if he ever participated in a Derby, the coach would get a call at some point. This year was Friedlein’s first chance, but he ultimately had to withdraw the day before the event. Aaron Myers, a Mets batting practice pitcher, took Friedlein’s place.

“After a couple of days practicing, he woke up and had some pretty bad inflammation,” Alonso said before the Derby. “I don’t know what he has, but it would further injure him or make it way worse, so it wouldn’t be fair to ask him to do that [Monday], especially with all the pitches he’s going to be throwing.”

Alonso, the all-time Derby leader with 194 homers, had relied on former Mets bench coach Dave Jauss in his two previous appearances (the last one after Jauss had joined the Nationals’ organization). He had won back-to-back titles before coming up short last year to Rodriguez, who lost to Juan Soto in the championship round at Dodger Stadium.

Alonso is only the third back-to-champ, along with Ken Griffey Jr. (1994, 1998-99) and Yoenis Cespedes (2013-14).

On Monday night, the fun-loving Polar Bear was forced to play the villain’s role at T-Mobile Park. Not only because the second seed was facing hometown favorite J-Rod (No. 7) in the first round, but he was vying to join Mariners legend Griffey as the only two players to win three Derby titles.

Rodriguez was loudly cheered during BP and boos began echoing around the ballpark once Alonso stepped into the cage. “Everyone is rooting for Julio,” the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole told ESPN during the broadcast, saying it reminded him of the hometown frenzy for the Reds’ Todd Frazier at the 2015 Derby (he won). “I’m rooting for Julio, too.”

Rodriguez rode the T-Mobile Park crowd like a tidal wave, hitting 14 homers before taking his timeout at the 1:35 mark and finishing with 32 in regulation. He added nine more in the minute-long bonus round. Watching those 3.14 miles of homers pile up (according to Statcast), Alonso knew he had his work cut out for him.

Alonso was booed loudly as his name was called and never really locked into the kind of rhythm he had in years past, hitting 11 homers before his timeout at the 1:21 mark. He had 18 in regulation, then tacked on three more in the bonus round.

“I thought I had a pretty good showing,” Alonso said. “Hit some balls far. Twenty-one homers, not bad. Obviously not as good as the number he put up. That was stupid. There’s a reason why it was a historic number. I don’t think you’re going to see that number for a really long time. I mean, 41 — my heavens. That was an incredible performance.”

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.