Replacing Pete Alonso has been on the Mets’ mind for a long time, and the front office has already taken a very different path than simply finding another big right-handed bat to plug in at first base.
David Stearns did not chase a like-for-like Alonso clone. Instead, the Mets reshaped the lineup with the Jorge Polanco signing, the move of Mark Vientos across the diamond, and the paycheck handed to Bo Bichette. That left the club without an obvious lumbering slugger to slide into Alonso’s old spot, but it also opened the door for a different kind of answer.
Corey Collins is starting to look like that answer in the making.
There’s no shortage of names floating around the Mets’ first base conversation, but not every option carries the same kind of upside. Ryan Clifford has stumbled, while Billy Amick brings power and the kind of swing-and-miss that can send a player in either direction. Collins feels steadier than both.
A converted catcher in college, Collins later spent time in the outfield and at first base, and that background gives him a little more defensive flexibility than a typical first baseman. He still seems most likely to end up at first, though the real question is whether the bat keeps moving forward enough to make him a legitimate middle-of-the-order piece.
That bat has taken a noticeable step.
Collins, an unranked prospect who probably won’t stay there much longer, was a sixth-round pick by the Mets in 2024. His first full professional season in 2025 was rough, as he hit just .168. This year told a much different story.
Even while working through a stint in Brooklyn, where left-handed hitters can have a tough time, Collins held his own. He hit .231/.391/.400 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI in 289 plate appearances.
Once he got a promotion to Double-A, he finished strong. Over his final 166 trips to the plate, Collins hit .250/.380/.522 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI.
For the season, he finished with 18 home runs, 61 RBI, and a .238/.387/.446 slash line - the kind of production that starts to look a lot more serious for a player projected to hit in the heart of a lineup.
The one obvious wrinkle is the same one that would greet any left-handed hitter trying to be the direct Alonso replacement. Collins bats left-handed, and that matters. Still, he posted an .826 OPS against lefties this year and was only slightly better against righties at .835.
If the Mets are looking for a different flavor than Alonso, Collins fits that bill. He brings power, patience, and enough athleticism to have played beyond first base in the first place. The glove may not define him, but the bat has the chance to carry him, and that’s the part that keeps getting more interesting.
In Other News...
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Mets Prospects Forced A 2027 Roster Conversation In 2026
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Lavenders return from Tommy John surgery has been one of the quieter development wins, with the left-hander handling both Triple-A and major league work well enough to keep his name in the mix. Vargas, meanwhile, has pushed up to Double-A and shown improved numbers despite injury interruptions, giving the Mets a few more reasons to think beyond the immediate roster picture and toward what the next wave could look like. [Read more 🡒]
Mets End Citi Field On A Frustrating Note Fans Wont Forget
The Mets final home game of the season turned into one more reminder of how uneven things have been at Citi Field, as Philadelphia pulled away for a 7-2 win. Jonah Tong was in trouble from the start, with the Phillies putting together an early surge that included four runs and four walks against the Mets starter, while Cristopher Sanchez kept New York in check with an efficient outing that featured six strikeouts and only two runs allowed.
New York did scratch out two late runs, but the comeback never got close once Justin Crawford delivered a three-run triple in the eighth inning to widen the gap. For a team that wanted to leave its home park on a better note, the finish only added to the frustration, and it sent the Mets into the next stage of the season with an ending their fans will remember for the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]