Want your voice heard? Alonso, who won the Home Run Derby in 2021 and 2019, returned for the 2022 edition in Los Angeles on Monday. pic.twitter.com/n5ADNPiiO9, Champ x 2 #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/Jw4fQ6bL0q, The chain and trophy are back where they belong, with King of the home run. He launched a record 35 home runs in the first round, and even as his opponent, Kansas Citys Salvador Perez, bashed 28, Alonso said he never worried. No, he said. DENVER Pete Alonsos words were as bold as his home runs. This is such a fun time for me, its just all positive thoughts, fun thoughts. He made it look real easy, Mancini said. Another bat, painted purple, silver and black, is dedicated to his grandfather who came to the U.S. from Spain and attended NYU. With the likes of other rising stars such as two-way player Shohei Ohtani, division rival Juan Soto, slugger Joey Gallo, hometown favorite Trevor Story, and others, Pete had his work cut out for him. It is tiring, for sure, but it was a lot of fun for the first time, Gallo said. @TreyMancini you are a fierce competitor! Two years ago when Alonso won it all, beating Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the final round, his cousin Derek Morgan threw to him. My timing was great and my effort level was outstanding, Alonso said. Alonso's 20 blasts measured out to a total distance of 1.6 miles and boasted an average velocity . Entering the 2021 contest, the longest Derby home run recorded by Statcast was 513 feet, by Judge at Marlins Park in 2017. Hes made $2 million in Home Run Derby winnings compared to about $1.47 million in career salary from the Mets through the end of this season. He said his Mets teammates considered that disrespectful, and asked if it made him mad. Alonso is the fifth seed. Being able to showcase that and really put on a fun display for fans, its truly a dream come true for me. pic.twitter.com/OcdDxOdgGY. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/hUqBzlBqsv, #PeteAlonso is the #HRDerby championYou can now save 80% on select tickets. https://t.co/OOHRJXjCSg pic.twitter.com/sK7D4e4kK3, Big numbers were put up at the #HRDerby. When the seedings came out, teammates came up to me and said, Thats disrespectful. Ohtani will becomes first two-way All-Star. USA TODAY Sports. After successfully defending his Home Run Derby crown, New York Mets star Pete Alonso is of the opinion that nobody can mash dingers like him. Follow Sportsmail's live blog as we bring you all the latest news and reaction following a frantic deadline day. Mets @ Marlins. The most exciting Derby in recent memory will be remembered more for the Herculean effort of its runner-up, however.. He called his timeout with 36 seconds left and 12 homers on the board, though he also knew he would have an additional minute of bonus time to work with. This is really gonna be a back-to-back home run derby where the winner gets overshadowed by somebody else. It was. at This is probably also a good time to highlight the work of Mets bench coachDave Jauss, who delivered pitch after pitch right into Alonso's wheelhouse: This is absolutely insane from Dave Jauss. 2019 Topps Now Pete Alonso RC PSA 10 Gem Home Run Derby Gold Bonus #HRD-2B. Life becomes much easier in the Derby. This year, it will be bench coach Dave Jauss. After talking about being the bar and being the standard following his first round, his post derby interview was just as. Two years ago, he had 30 home runs at the break, on his way to 53, a rookie record. Being able to showcase that and put on a fun display on for the fans is truly a dream come true for me.. The 26-year-old Alonso joins Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. (1998-99) and Yoenis Cspedes (2013-14) as the only players to win two straight. . The star New York Mets first baseman was going for his. 10:50 pm ET, at Dancing along to music while he waits for his timeout to end. 6-keys: media/spln/mlb/reg/free/stories_live-blog, By pressing sign up, I confirm that I have read and agree to the. 2023 Single Game Tickets 2023 Season Memberships 2023 . We've received your submission. Really, really cool., T-Mobile Home Run Derby: Complete coverage, Mancini finishes 2nd in 'really special' Derby. The Polar Bear got it during his historic rookie season . Soto, the No. Pete Alonso was made for the Home Run Derby his strength, his swagger, his spirit. thrower and to be able to come out on top like this is really special, not just for me, but for him.. Almost every time he made contact, the ball exploded off the bat. Pitching strikes to Alonso was Dave Jauss, the teams bench coach. He then went on to beat division rival Juan Soto in the semifinals and advance to the finals to face off against Baltimore Orioles slugger Trey Mancini. Since MLB moved to the current bracket-based, time-oriented format, the Home Run Derby has been phenomenal. NY Mets 15 Best Trades in Franchise History. You really have to love the confidence the man has as he is able to back it up. His longest shot of the round went 480 feet. Did Manchester . Top drivers and best bets for the Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2019 National League Rookie of the Year opened with 35 homers in the opening round and finished with 74 across the entire competition. Behold, only a few hours before he puts them to the test: Pete Alonso's 10 Rules to Win a Home Run Derby. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. Pete Alonso dominates the Home Run Derby. It took two dramatic tiebreakers, however. Ohtani hit six 500-foot home runs and 15 475-foot home runs, both records in a single round in the Statcast era (2015 to present). His oncologist, Dr. Nilo Azad, threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Camden Yards before the Orioles hosted the Chicago White Sox last Friday night. Jauss hopes he isnt remembered for his performance on Monday. What does the winner of the Home Run Derby get? He hit No. Mancini, who returned this season from cancer treatment, was the sentimental favorite, while Alonso was the most animated of the eight sluggers as the longball competition returned after a one-year absence caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He said that following his win he feels as if he is one of the best to ever do it (the home run derby). The 29-year-old returned this season after treatment for colon cancer. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2020 Topps Chrome Pete Alonso Rookie Gold Cup Insert Home Run Derby Mets at the best online prices at eBay! He motioned with his arms to whip up fans during a timeout. Screengrab (2) Pete Alonso swings during the first round of the Home Run Derby. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/SW0O4tJwTe, Pete was born for this. By. Mets slugger Pete Alonso put on an absolute show in Monday's Home Run Derby to lock up back-to-back titles in the event for the first time since Yoenis Cespedes in 2014. Being able to showcase that and really put on a fun display for fans, its truly a dream come true for me, because when I was younger my parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch this.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. He advanced to the final with another narrow win, beating Story, 13-12, to earn his chance at the trophy. He earned a $1 million winner's prize. at My parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch this, the 26-year-old recalled. No, it's time for collectibles, which is where Funko . Best odds to win. Five to tie, six to win. ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2021-07-13T05:27:19.091Z","description":"Pete Alonso talks about winning the Home Run Derby, the awesome chain that comes with the title and facing off against Trey Mancini","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:01:46","mp4AvcPlayback":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2021/2021-07/12/91cf6a01-f9450c6f-419c7a29-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","slug":"pete-alonso-on-winning-the-hrd","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-121","title":"New York Mets"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-624413","title":"Pete Alonso"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"interview","title":"interview"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"home-run-derby","title":"Home Run Derby"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"all-star","title":"All-Star"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/private/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ibi1e7nmydsnm1bmgtny","title":"Pete Alonso on winning the HRD","type":"video","url":"/video/pete-alonso-on-winning-the-hrd"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":" \n\nFive more homers before the end of regulation gave Alonso 17, the same number Mancini hit in his first 2:00 of the final.\n\nAlonso didnt even need half that time to claim his crown, belting six home runs in 29 seconds to win the title. 2020 Topps Chrome Pete Alonso Home Run Derby Rookie Cup #U-86, New York Mets. Mets star prospect solid in first spring catching outing: I felt healthy, Max Scherzers first look at the new pitch clock, Why Mets ace says hell call own pitches in certain situations, Mets reliever continues to impress at spring training, Yankees star approves of blatant Astros trolling, Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. His arm never gets sore, he said, and his aim is still true. That BP to Pete was unreal! The 26-year-old UF alumnus defeated Kansas City catcher Salvador Perez in the first round with a derby-high 35 dingers, after which he beat Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto in the. It doesnt matter.. He plans to repeat the feat Monday night. Im going to win it again.. "Hitting a homer here is super fun," Alonso said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Just like in the 2019 Home Run Derby, Alonso has the edge over Acua. Mancini knew topping Alonso would be difficult. Tickets. Thats how I describe how I play.. Salvy clubs 28 homers in HR Derby debut. #PeteAlonso is your 2021 #HRDerby CHAMPION! Nine of the 35 went 475 feet or longer. Guerrero is on the Dominican Republic roster for this months World Baseball Classic. 11:39 pm ET, at He has crushed the ball at every level, hitting 14 homers in his final year at Florida and getting 36 across Double-A and Triple-A in 2018. Alonso who graduated from Plant High School hit 23 home runs to beat Mancini in the final who went to Winter Haven High School. 10:35 am ET. Nobody. 1.7M views 238K views 10 months ago. Add those 35 up and you get just shy of three miles of home runs in the first round alone. He said despite being the fifth seed as the previous champion he did not care because he was going to win anyway. Its really fun and kind of a great meshing of two worlds., The bats included phrases and other things holding special meaning to Alonso, including Family First, LFGM and the Greek phrase Molon Labe from one of the sluggers favorite movies, 300, which means come and take them., Even though Im outnumbered nine to one, Im in my little area, like when the Spartans defended, only 300 of them defended against all odds, Alonso told ESPN. Rule No. Here's how the 2021 Home Run Derby played out. #PeteAlonso pic.twitter.com/t5Gimhe2oL, Pete Alonso joins Yoenis Cspedes and Ken Griffey Jr. as the only players to win back-to-back HR derbies! His slugging percentage has fallen from .583 in his first season to .478 through 77 games in 2021. Pete Alonso of the New York Mets became the third back-to-back Home Run Derby champion, beating No. What are those large pyramids next to the Skyway? SBJ Unpacks: Coronavirus -- NFL Preps For Hit To Regular Season. Here are the 10 longest home runs of the 2021 Home Run Derby: Prior to Monday, the longest Home Run Derby home run in the Statcast era was a 513-foot blast by Aaron Judge in 2017. Alonsos 20 blasts measured out to a total distance of 1.6 miles and boasted an average velocity of 108.1 mph as they shot into the Los Angeles golden sky. This is why he should be nicknamed "Petaters.". There was no point where I thought I was going to lose. Aaron Judge plans to 'keep the blinders on' until Yankees Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. but his head bobbing and interview gave me strong white goodman vibes . Alonso has one distinction, though his titles are over three seasons. Moments before taking the field at this years Home Run Derby, cameras captured the slugging first baseman deadlifting 135 pounds in full uniform. Share. The other two are Yoenis Cespedes in 2013 and 2014 and Ken Griffey Jr. in 1998 and 1999. Michael Joseph Piazza (/ p i t s / pea-AHT-s; born September 4, 1968) is an American former professional baseball catcher who played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1992 to 2007. Alonso smashed 74 homers in all, and topped Mancinis final-round 22 with 31 seconds to spare. Of course we werent able to match [Mark] McGwire or [Ken] Griffey [Jr.] or [Sammy] Sosa, because it was some kind of Derby, Jauss said. Two years ago, Alonso belted 57 home runs total, joining Aaron Judge as the only rookies ever to win the Derby. He didnt rule out the idea of going for the three-peat next summer at Dodger Stadium, but his consecutive victories have cemented Alonsos place in Derby history. A barrage of HR over the LF stands into the concourse. Two years ago, Alonso belted 57 home runs total, joining Aaron Judge as the only rookies ever to win the Derby. Alonso went on to have some legendary quotes throughout the night. This is gonna be fun. The Washington Nationals superstar logged 19 home runs in the final round and. Five more homers before the end of regulation gave Alonso 17, the same number Mancini hit in his first 2:00 of the final. To be able to do it back-to-back, this is really special for me. DENVER Shortly after obliterating the Home Run Derby competition like a belt-high fastball, Pete Alonso sat down at the interview podium late Monday night, placed the crossed-bat trophy on the . Real Madrid 0-1 Barcelona: Catalans edge feisty Clasico after Franck Kessie forced first-half Eder Militao own goal in Copa del Rey semi-final first leg - as Xavi's side bounce back from . Monday, March 16, 2020. Yeah, Gregory Siff, L.A.-based artist, grew up in Queens, his artwork for all my bats I use today is just incredible, Alonso said. Accompanying him was Nationals special assistant David Jauss,. But then he went out and made the finals while also pushing Alonso close to the limit. pic.twitter.com/F4uTIM357U, How do you not love this?! Mets Star Rookie Pete Alonso Plays 'Truth or Dare' on NYC Subway The special lumber told the 26-year-old Alonsos life story. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. After his winning blast, Alonso flexed for a brief moment, headed toward the mound and then put on a giant chain. Alonso danced to the title, besting Shohei Ohtani, Trey Mancini and Juan Soto on a night of record long balls in the thin Rocky Mountain air of Coors Field. Although he was eliminated in Round 1, Ohtani fans can look forward to the Tuesday's All-Star Game, when Ohtani will serve as the American League's starting pitcher and starting DH. The secret weapon was Jauss and his pinpoint, deadeye accuracy. $2.99 + $1.05 shipping. I talked to him and told him about my story and my personality, and I gave him creative freedom and he gave me the absolute best arsenal out of everyone today. I wanted to make the standard incredibly untouchable.. Nine of his homers exceeded 475 feet, the longest traveling 514. Alonso and his blue-and-orange bat went 6 for 6 in a 28-second stretch to give him 23 homers in the final round after Mancini hit 22 in the thin Rocky Mountain air. To be here a year later and make it to the final was incredible. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Flipboard (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). Resultate, Transfers, News: Mit dem tagesaktuellen Sport-Ticker bleiben Sie ber das laufende Geschehen stets informiert. I knew that they'd changed the rules to the finals, and I wasn't quite sure what it was, because I didn't really pay too much attention to it earlier on in the day. 2019 Topps Now Home Run Derby PETE ALONSO Rookie Gold Bonus PSA 10 Gem Mint. He launched 10 more home runs in his 60 seconds of bonus time, giving him an eye-popping 35 for Round 1. The rookie entered play tied for third in the National League with 12 homers, and his majestic blasts figure to make him a prime candidate for the Home Run Derby, with the added bonus of bringing . Soto thrilled the crowd of 49,048 with a 520-foot homer, the longest derby drive in the Statcast era, topping 513 feet the New York Yankees Aaron Judge in 2017 at Miami. Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels sensation set to start on the mound and hit leadoff as designated hitter for the American League in Tuesday nights All-Star Game, started slowly but forced two rounds of tiebreakers with Sotobefore losing 31-28in the second round. It was incredible, especially after the last year-and-a-half, Mancini said. The crowd responded, and after he stepped back into the box, it took just 15 seconds for Alonso to hit the two home runs necessary to advance to the final, leaving 48 unneeded seconds on the clock. 12:14 am ET, at Pete Alonso of the Mets won out over a Home Run Derby field that included Juan Soto, Shohei Ohtani, Trey Mancini and Salvador Perez. 11:05 pm ET, at 8 seed, hit 11 homers during his three minutes of regulation time, adding four more in his bonus time for a total of 15. I must say, it is hard to argue with him following the show he put on. NEW YORK -- After putting on one of the most spectacular shows in the history of the Home Run Derby two years ago, Pete Alonso is returning to defend his crown. Alonsos timing looked off early in the final, but he found a groove and hit six straight homers. 6 seed Trey Mancini in the final. Alonso did not seem to care how stacked the lineup card for the derby was, as he went on to crush his competition and make it look easy in the process. Shohei Ohtani only lasted one round in the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday at Coors Field in Denver, but what a round he had. INTERVIEW WITH PREMIUMGOODS OWNER CLARENCE NATHAN . It is usually 99 percent for the fans, one percent for the actual participants. Thats what we worked on in practice. In the process, the Mets first baseman won $1 million for his 74 home runs. #PeteAlonso pic.twitter.com/OItgygBs3k, All 74 of Pete Alonso's #HRDerby homers. Guerrero was seen walking toward the clubhouse with an athletic trainer in the second inning and was replaced defensively by Rainer Nunez to start the third. When I was younger, my parents actually let me stay up past my bedtime to watch this.. TWENTY of these were 475+ feet. 11:07 pm ET, at Its exciting. The game is back from a break and intensifying.Andrea's triple Villaro exploded the advantage of Super, was redone with a 0-4 run to get back in front (47-50).Mariela Fasoura She kept her teammates alive by chaining three consecutive baskets that gave the initiative back to Avenida. Mancinimissed the 2020 season while undergoing chemotherapy for stage 3 colon cancer, treatment he finished last Sept. 21 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/0SrfpkLlFl, The stars are out in Denver for the Celebrity Softball Game. Winning the last home run derby in 2019 with none being held last season, Alonso was set to defend his title in a deep and talented field. We had a great time out there., Direct from the champ! Arent you pissed about that? I said, No. $0.99 + $1.49 shipping. To get a sense of the Coors Field effect, consider this: There were 15 homers of more than 500 feet on Monday, as measured by Statcast. Can SunRail help ease traffic in Polk County? Alonso went on to have some legendary quotes throughout the night. Pete Alonso's solo home run. Soto homered on all three swings of the next tiebreak, and Ohtani grounded out on his first swing. pic.twitter.com/E3u5QQN2hu, 2 chainz. (We started with a 1-2 count, he said, which helps.) As a coach for the Boston Red Sox when they hosted the 1999 All-Star Game, Jauss threw batting practice for hours to the leagues top sluggers, including Nomar Garciaparra, Juan Gonzalez, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ivan Rodriguez. New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso became the third back-to-back Home Run Derby champion Ken Griffey Jr. did it in 1998 and 1999, and Yoenis Cespedes did the same in 2013 and 2014. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Fanatics View is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and is independently owned and operated. Upon reaching MLB,the 26-year-old set the rookie record for home runs with 53. Ranking the mets best SPs in franchise history, Best left-handed SPs in Mets franchise history, Ranking the Mets' best infielders in franchise history, Ranking the Mets' best outfielders in franchise history, Top 5 best offseasons in Mets franchise history, Best 1st round picks the Mets have made by position. That $2 million in winnings is more than he's made with the Mets over that same span. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit nearly 100 home runs during Monday night's Home Run Derby, and each barreled ball sounded like a piston firing. TAMPA (WFLA/AP) - Mets slugger Pete Alonso defended his Home Run Derby title by beating Salvador Perez, Juan Soto and Trey Mancini. In all, Alonsos 35 blasts totaled 15,689 feet, with 33 of the 35 landing in left field or left-center. , Man charged after dead body, infant found in apartment, Infants death linked to contaminated breast pump,, Carjacking suspect caught after wild chase in L.A., Dillon Brooks Blasts Warriors, Draymond Green in, Chase Elliott to Miss Race After Injuring Leg in, Ex-NBA Player Anthony Morrow Arrested on Kidnapping,, Spirit Sign Youngest Player in NWSL History, 15-Year-Old, Report: Cowboys to Franchise Tag Pollard If No Deal, Adam Schefter Pranks Podcasters With Fake Lamar Jackson, Sources: Giants Offer QB Jones Between $35 Mil and, What Each Likely First-Round QB Needs From Their, CAT scan: Pet goes through X-ray machine at Virginia, Bradenton family home ransacked by intruders: police. coax him along in the moment and hit enough home runs to win. Monday night, New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso bested Baltimore Orioles first baseman Trey Mancini in the finals of the 2021 Home Run Derby at Coors Field in Denver. Alonso. Really, really cool.","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"ExternalEmbed","data":{"__typename":"ExternalEmbedContent","html":", @gregorysiff created some artwork for #PeteAlonso to swing at tonights #HRDerby. Alonso has 17 with a minute of bonus time coming. The last 30 seconds of both the first round and the tiebreaking round were really exhausting.. World champion Verstappen is favourite again but can Mercedes duo Hamilton and Russell stop the Red Bull star, are Ferrari finally up to a title challenge and is Alonso set for a shock return to the top? 11:26 pm ET, at It is impossible to not like him, a ton of confidence while backing it up with his play, but also humble and down to earth. Alonso, batting second, beat Soto 16-15 in the second round. 11:01 pm ET, at Mancini went first and impressed with 22 home runs, but Pete was too locked in the night and edged him out for the win. Watch incredible feats you dont see in a regular baseball game. The Ruth Jefferson-trained eight-year-old has made his mark with a string of good runs this season, most recently finishing a half-length second to Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase on . Two over 510 feet. 11:56 pm ET, at Relevant: Pete Alonso has now earned $2.08M in 2.5 seasons with the #Mets, and $2M for back to back HR Derby wins. Two years ago, Pete Alonso put on an eye-popping show in a memorable Home Run Derby victory. Ive put myself in a really good position.. PETE ALONSO WON'T STOP MASHING . New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso hits in the first round of the Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium, July 18, 2022, in Los Angeles. Hes a good dude, Olson said. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. When asked about defending his title and his seeding he said he was never worried about losing. I had a fun time winning it. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Alonso in total hit 74 home runs on the night. They certainly paid off for Alonso, who was barely challenged through three rounds, this year. FL lawmaker wants political bloggers to be registered, Spirit flight makes emergency landing in FL due to, Man accused of dumping 30 mattresses in Key West:, Jack in the Box coming to Florida, seeking franchisees, Florida woman cashes out $1 million lottery prize, Disney Worlds Typhoon Lagoon water park set to reopen, Universal Orlando adds vegan Butterbeer to menus, 4 new things to check out at the FL Strawberry Festival, Co-workers win $50K after buying ticket during lunch. Alonso set the record for most home runs in the first round of a derby when he clobbered 35 long balls, beating out Royals catcher Salvador Perez. I was able to stay consistent and really, really, kind of dominate.. 10:43 pm ET, at Seven-time series champion Lewis Hamilton is the winningest driver in Bahrain with five victories to his credit, but due to Mercedes' decline in form over the past two seasons, he's only listed at 11-to-1 at BetMGM. To learn more about ChatGPT and how we can inspire students, we sat down with BestReviews book expert, Ciera Pasturel. The second tiebreaker is a three-swing swing-off and Soto went a perfect 3 for 3. Barcelona coach Xavi hailed Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde as 'two of the best defenders in the world' after they enabled his team to take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of the Copa del Rey semi . Monday, it felt like the Mets slugger might challenge that number in the first round. Alonso earned $1 million more than his $676,775 salary. 9:46 pm ET, at