WASHINGTON -- At this point, the only remaining question is how much history Pete Alonso will write. Already the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, Alonso slugged his 45th home run in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Nationals, to claim sole possession of the Major

WASHINGTON -- At this point, the only remaining question is how much history Pete Alonso will write.

Already the favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year Award, Alonso slugged his 45th home run in Wednesday's 8-4 win over the Nationals, to claim sole possession of the Major League lead. Alonso snapped a tie with Mike Trout and Cody Bellinger, who both entered play Wednesday with 44 homers.

“It feels pretty good,” Alonso said of owning the league lead this late in the season. “I feel really, really fortunate. I’m really happy with how I’ve been performing, and this year’s not over yet. I just need to keep on playing well, capitalizing on good pitches, and keep trying to help this team win.”

Alonso’s 45th long ball was a 408-foot shot down the left-field line, close enough to the pole that he did not seem entirely sure at first if it was fair. When it indeed landed fair, Alonso moved within seven home runs of Aaron Judge’s MLB rookie record, set two years ago.

Alonso already owns the NL rookie record, as well as the Mets’ all-time single-season home run mark. He is on pace to hit 52 home runs, which would match Judge’s record. Alonso is also on pace for 122 RBIs, which would fall two shy of the Mets’ franchise record. No Mets player has led the Majors in homers, though three Mets -- Howard Johnson in 1991, Darryl Strawberry in '88 and Dave Kingman in '82 -- have paced the NL in that category.