There’s no doubt that Pete Alonso is on a hot streak right now. But don’t take it as a random early-season power. This has all been plausible because of a carefully constructed plan. And it all started when Juan Soto asked a question of the New York Mets before he joined, “Who’s batting behind me?” 

And it was a legitimate question. Soto was fresh off a historic season with the New York Yankees. There, he had real protection from Aaron Judge. So, of course, he pitched in for Alonso to be in Mets. And honestly, while Polar Bear isn’t on the New York Yankee captain level, he is the closest power bat the Mets had. And Soto’s hindsight was great. That two-year deal with an opt-out that Alonso signed is paying off big time for the Mets.

ESPN’s Paul Hembekides, in fact, tied Alonso’s hot streak to Soto. “I suppose there are men on base to drive in — and that, of course, is the Juan Soto effect. We saw it last year with Aaron Judge. So many more of his home runs came with men on base. Obviously, Juan Soto clogs the bases in that respect.” The stats back this up.

This year, Pete Alonso has come to the plate with a man on base 62% of the time. Last season that number was just 46%. And when Soto’s been intentionally walked ahead of him, which has already happened plenty of times, he has gone 3 for 7 with two more walks and eight RBIs. Hembo added, “We might well be seeing Pete Alonso, if not having a career year, certainly a year of his superficial stats — based upon the fact that I think the bases are very likely to be occupied. We’re going to see 120, maybe 130 RBI out of the guy.” But it’s not just the numbers, though.

The chemistry between Alonso and Soto has also been great. Take the game just this week with the New York Mets leading the Marlins 6-5, where Soto was intentionally walked. They wanted to face Alonso instead, and they did, and it was a mistake. Two pitches later, Alonso cleared the bases with a triple. He had that leverage, and he thrived.

And the real deal is that Juan Soto’s ability to force pitchers to work means that Alonso gets those fastballs. Through the first 12 games, Pete Alonso is batting .333 with three home runs, 15 RBIs, and 1.139 OPS. That’s a huge comeback from the sad season that he had last year. As far as what Soto thinks about Alonso’s performance, he is boasting about it.

Juan Soto dares pitchers to walk him

Clayton McCullough found himself in a lose-lose situation at City Field. The Marlins rookie manager, of course, had to choose between pitching to Juan Soto or walking him. And then face Pete Alonso with the bases loaded. And as you saw, he chose the latter, and it cost them big. Pete Alonso crushed it, and the Mets are on their sixth straight win. Mets manager took a dig, saying in the end it’s just a “pick your poison” thing, and it’s something even Soto agrees with.

Juan Soto told SNY, “Whenever they don’t want to pitch to me, I know I have someone behind me who can make it worse for them, so I’m really happy about that.” Alonso, of course, has every reason to make the pitchers pay. He signed a two-year, $54 million contract this offseason. But he has an opt-out, and that seems to be a huge driving force. After a not-so-great season, he is having a prove-it season, and with Juan Soto with him, that dream is coming true.

And now the bar has been set even higher. He might be able to get the number he has set for himself this off-season. See, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. just lit up the first baseman market with a blowtorch. A $500 million contract for 14 years—that’s unheard of in the first baseman market. So with him off the market, Alonso calls the dips next time.

Even Alonso seemed thrilled with the contract of Vladdy, saying, “It’s huge for first basemen…Obviously half a billion dollars is a huge, huge amount… it’s great for the first base market.” And given Polar Bear’s age, he might not hit the $500 million mark, but the market moved way ahead in his favor. Plus, with the numbers he is putting up, this next deal could be a huge one.

If you had to guess a plausible contract number for Alonso—what would it be? Let us know in the comments.