AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso
says he’s dealt with “pretty bad PTSD” since he was involved in a car crash in March during spring training in Florida.
Alonso discussed his experience since
the crash in a first-person piece posted Wednesday on the Players’
Tribune:
“When something like this happens to
you, there’s so much that cycles through your mind. There are a ton
of what-ifs involved. I mean, my wife was driving right behind me. If
that other driver had arrived at that intersection two seconds later,
he would’ve hit her instead.
“And even beyond that, there are just
a lot of things that have gone through my head since I got hit. A big
accident like that, when it happens to you, I don’t care who you
are, it’s not easy. No matter how strong you might think you are,
it can still be rough in a lot of different ways. I’m still dealing
with some pretty bad PTSD from it, to be completely honest with you.
And I feel very fortunate that I was able to recognize that. That
I’ve been able to talk through it with some people. I mean, over
the past several months I’ve really been leaning on some people
that I trust and hold close. I’m continuously working through
everything.”
The 27-year-old Tampa native’s truck was T-boned by a car at an intersection. He described the crash as “horrifying” and noted his experience was the opposite of what
people often describe in similar situations—everything sped up
instead of slowing down.
“This was something that happened
fast,” Alonso wrote. “It was like everything was moving at a million
miles an hour. And in those moments when my truck was flipping over
and over, I thought that was going to be it. In my head, I was like,
Alright, that’s it. It’s over for me. I’m done. The end.“
Amazingly, the Mets star walked away without any significant physical injuries.
Alonso is in the midst of a terrific
season on the diamond. He’s compiled a .269/.345/.526 slash line with
23 home runs in 87 games for New York, which sits atop the NL East
with a 54-34 record.
The 2019 NL Rookie of the Year earned
his second career All-Star appearance and will attempt to capture his
third straight Home Run Derby title at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles
next week.
“I think I’m the best power hitter
on the planet,” Alonso said after last year’s derby triumph.
“Being able to showcase that, and really putting on a fun
display for fans, I just think it’s a dream come true for me because
when I was young, my parents let me stay up past my bedtime to watch
this.”
After wrapping up a series against the
reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, Alonso
and the Mets finish their first half with a four-game road set
against the Chicago Cubs beginning Thursday.
