Pete Alonso said Monday he is thankful to be alive, and he has never been so happy to be at spring training.
"One thing, I was coming here to work, coming to spring training and then next thing I know I am kicking my windshield and trying to get out of a flipped over car," said the Mets slugging first basemen.
Alonso said he was driving his truck Sunday as he made his way from his home in Tampa to Port St. Lucie when he was struck by another vehicle. His wife posted pics of what the truck looked like on Instagram.
"My car flipped over probably about three times, guy ran a red light, t-boned me,” Alonso recalled. “To me, I'm just happy to be alive, happy to be healthy."
Alonso said he will return to full action Tuesday, joining teammates like Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer, two pitchers with five Cy Young Awards between them. They were pitching side by side during workouts, quite the sight to see these two foes now in the same starting rotation.
DeGrom said he relishes the chance to be on the same team as Scherzer for a change.
"I've said it before that I love competing against him, but now to learn from him, I mean the guy's a future Hall of Famer,” deGrom said.
DeGrom said he felt great pitching, coming off a season where he was shutdown after only 15 starts due to injuries. Scherzer isn't the only addition to the pitching staff. Chris Bassitt made his way to camp after he was traded from Oakland. He figures to be a key part of the Mets staff.
"To be paired with the group that we have is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so I'm excited and hopefully make the most of it," said Bassitt.
Another hurler looking for a big year is reliever Edwin Diaz.
"I feel really happy to be back with the guys, so we are here and looking forward to winning the championship this year," said Diaz.
Mets legend and broadcaster Keith Hernandez paid a visit to camp, and watched batting practice with new manager Buck Showalter. Hernandez said he has high hopes for the squad.
They will open the season in Washington on April 7.
"It is a team that is built to win this year or next year and it's a veteran team," said Hernandez, who added that he likes all the moves the team has made in the off-season. "They are committed to winning," said the member of the Mets 1986 World Championship squad.
The Amazins hope to get back to that echelon at the climax of the 2022 season.
