New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso said on Monday he feels "blessed" to be alive, healthy and at spring training after surviving what he described as a "brutal" car accident the day before.
The 27-year-old said his car flipped three times after another driver ran a red light and hit his vehicle, resulting in a side-impact collision, while he was heading to spring training with the Mets.
"I was coming here to work, coming to spring training, and next thing I know I'm kicking my windshield in trying to get out of a flipped-over car," said Alonso.
Alonso said he is ready to go for full activity, but took the day to do personal work after the accident.
"Today I just feel really blessed to be here, not just alive but healthy as well," Alonso said. "Everyone in my family is okay. My wife was an absolute trooper yesterday, she really helped."
Alonso's wife, who was in a car behind him, was the one to call emergency services after witnessing the accident. The driver who caused the crash was reportedly okay at the scene.
A key player for the Mets, Alonso led the team in every major batting category: hits (147), home runs (37), RBIs (94), batting average (.262) and on-base percentage (.344).
Despite the accident, Alonso said he would take the field Tuesday to prepare for the first spring training game on the road against the Nationals at The Ballpark of The Palm Beaches.
"You never know what can happen," Alonso said. "Anything can happen at any given moment, anything can get derailed at any single time."
