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Pete Alonso Brings His Endless Enthusiasm to the Home Run Derby

Frank Franklin II/Associated Press

CLEVELAND — Part of the charm of Pete Alonso, the precocious and powerful rookie for the Mets, is that he is both supremely confident and utterly awe-struck. He knows he belongs at the All-Star Game, yet he also cannot quite believe it.

“For me, it’s like, I’m an All-Star and my idol, a guy I want to emulate, is Paul Goldschmidt — and he’s not here and I am,” Alonso said, referring to the St. Louis Cardinals’ first baseman. “That’s the most humbling thing about this.”

Goldschmidt made the All-Star team in each of the last six seasons, but has slumped a bit this year.