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The second half of the 2025 season hasn’t gone the Mets’ way, but Pete Alonso becoming the franchise’s all-time leading home run hitter earlier this week was a welcome reprieve from the past couple of months. 

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo might not get what all the hubbub is about, which he made clear in an on-air rant that stemmed from his displeasure with the enthusiastic call from SNY play-by-play voice Gary Cohen. 

In the Mets clubhouse and in a special pregame celebration Thursday night, however, there was recognition of what it means to surpass four-time World Series winner Darryl Strawberry. 

And there was immense appreciation for Alonso, who has so naturally endeared himself to New York and Mets fans since the day he put on the blue and orange. 

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“Definitely important [to celebrate]. I mean, anytime somebody accomplishes something like that you want to celebrate it because it’s taken a lot of years of hard work to get to that point,” Brandon Nimmo told The Post before the Mets took on the Braves. “And by no means do you want to minimize that by the team going through a tough stretch.

“Obviously, with him accomplishing this feat of breaking the home run record, you want to celebrate that and make sure it’s as special as it can possibly be for him.”

The rain delay Wednesday night postponed the ceremony, but the Mets made sure the Polar Bear got his moment. 

Radio broadcaster Howie Rose read a heartfelt speech, highlighting Alonso’s 53 first-year home runs and postseason heroics.

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A special video tribute — narrated by Strawberry — then played on the jumbotron as fans around the stadium gave the 30-year-old a standing ovation. 

And when Rose asked Alonso what it would mean to continue his career with the Mets, the roar of applause from the crowd drowned out his answer. 

“He’s someone who does it on an everyday basis and makes it look easy,” said Nimmo, who is Alonso’s longest-tenured Mets teammate. 

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Alonso, who was tied with Kyle Schwarber at 254 for the second-most homers in the majors since 2019 entering the game, has a player option for $24 million in 2026 that he likely won’t take. 

It would make him a free agent for a second straight year. Only this time, the Mets can’t give him a qualifying offer after doing so during last offseason’s negotiations. 

“I’ve just seen him continue to make adjustments year after year,” Nimmo said, “to the point where I feel like this year is the best I’ve ever seen him. Since 2019, obviously, 2019 was amazing. To be able to do what he’s done this year — with everybody knowing the power that he has and everything — he’s been a very consistent hitter.

“He’s been a very good hitter all-around, too, not just power. He’s driven in almost 100 runs already. Obviously, his OPS is in a great position, close to that .900. To be able to do that in Citi Field has been amazing. 

“To be able to watch that evolution, it’s been really special for me. I’m really, really proud of him because to make those adjustments has taken a lot of hard work on his end, and he’s definitely been working to get the most out of himself.”