Kathy Willens/Associated Press
Pete Alonso, the leading contender for the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award, broke the Mets’ single-season home run record on Tuesday, hitting his 42nd of the season in a game against the Chicago Cubs.
The previous record of 41 home runs was shared by Todd Hundley, who accomplished the feat in 1996, and Carlos Beltran, who matched it in 2006. The Mets are the only team whose current single-season home run record was set by a rookie.
“It’s a pleasure to have a fine young player like Pete Alonso break my record,” Beltran said in a statement provided by the Mets.