GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The New York Mets opened the season in Washington, so former Gators slugger
Pete Alonso has yet to make his debut at Citi Field. That is not scheduled until Thursday, following a three-game series against the Marlins in Miami that starts Monday.
However, a small group of Mets fans at Nationals Park in Washington voiced their excitement over Alonso's three-hit day Saturday with chants of "Pete A-lon-so!" New York's rookie first baseman has four hits in his first two games in the majors and has already developed into a big story in the Big Apple.
Mets teammate
Noah Syndergaard is already giving Alonso the nickname treatment andÂ
referred to Alonso Saturday as "Pistol Pete" and "The Polar Bear."Â
"Trying to knock down outfield walls out there," Syndergaard told
The New York Times. "Just a lot of fun to watch out there."
For more on Alonso and other items of interest for Gators fans, a look at some of the latest headlines connected to the Gators:
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-- Mets fans are hungry for a good story and Alonso's family history is exactly that. Alonso's U.S. roots were planted in
Queens by his late grandfather,
Peter Conrad Alonso, who died in December at age 95 writes
Tim Healey of
Newsday.
-- Former Gators coach
Urban Meyer is confident
Dan Mullen can lead the Gators into the College Football Playoff:
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-- Former Gators guard
Brandone Francis is
headed to the Final Four with Texas Tech and had a big basket in Saturday's win over Gonzaga writes
Ryan Navarette of
The Dallas Morning News.
-- Gators redshirt freshman quarterback
Emory Jones adjusted his expectations once he arrived at Florida writes
Matt Baker of
The Tampa Bay Times.
-- Alonso's teammate at Florida, Orioles shortstop
Richie Martin, got his first major league hit on Saturday at Yankee Stadium:
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--
How a former Florida State volleyball star and her husband helped ex-Gators star
Joakim Noah rediscover his passion for basketball via
Mark Giannotto of the
Memphis Commercial Appeal.
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