Mets' Pete Alonso 'means so much to this city', Yankees' Aaron Judge says

Pete Alonso, who broke Darryl Strawberry’s all-time Mets home run record on Tuesday night with No. 253 and then hit another one to boot, has an admirer in the Bronx who knows a thing or two about hitting the longball.

Aaron Judge, who hit his 353rd career home run in Tuesday’s 9-1 Yankees victory over the Twins, told Newsday about Alonso’s feat: “It's great. Happened quick, to be honest, which is pretty cool, but speaks just volumes to the type of player he is, the consistency over the years to go out there from his rookie year on.

“The guy hits 25-30 homers every year. It's pretty special. That's why, during the whole free agency thing, and I was hoping he signed back with the Mets because he means so much to this city, so much to that team and that franchise. And seeing him go out there and get the record, I think that record’s going to be tough to beat once he's done playing. He's just going to continue to do what he does.

“Just so happy for him. He's just a great, great guy. I can't speak enough to the person he is.”

Speaking of team home run records, Babe Ruth holds the Yankees’ mark with 659. So all Judge needs is 306 to tie.

“Give me some time,” Judge said. “We’ll see. That’s a tough one. But we never know what’s going to happen in the next couple years.”

More realistic for Judge in the near future: Yogi Berra, who is fifth on the Yankees’ list at 358, and then Joe DiMaggio at 361.