Mets' Alonso 'would be honored' to take part in Home Run Derby

New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso currently leads all major-league rookies with 12 home runs this season. And if the call comes, he wants to take his slugging show to Cleveland for the All-Star Game's annual Home Run Derby.

"I would love to do it," Alonso said, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. "I think that would be fun, a real amazing thing to do, but I haven’t heard anything yet. I would be honored to do it for sure."

The Home Run Derby has developed a negative reputation of late after the event likely contributed to a shoulder injury for New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge when he won the 2017 edition. Judge blasted 30 home runs in that season's first half while batting .329 in 83 games; the second half saw him produce 22 long balls and a .228 batting average over 71 games.

Whether he was injured or not, Alonso is not deterred.

"I don’t know if he did or didn’t," Alonso said. "But I think it’s one of those things if you have a chance to do it and you haven’t done it before, why not do it? You only live once."

This year's Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday, July 8 at Progressive Field.

Only Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich and Los Angeles Dodgers teammates Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson have hit more homers in the National League than Alonso this season.