Editor's note: This is the first in a series of exclusive columns by Mets prospect Peter Alonso, chronicling his journey to the major leagues.

School pride is everything for any college baseball program. The program is bigger than everything. The main focus is the program and your teammates, nothing else. Playing at a big college program like University of Florida, you hear phrases like “it’s for the program” or “for Gator Nation” or “the Gator Way."

At big school like that, there’s a lot of rah-rah and hype. My first year playing ball there, I fell into the “do it for the program” mentality. I felt like a cookie cutter college baseball player. There have been so many times where I played the game too unselfishly. My freshman year, I felt like a robot. I didn’t have any sense of “self” as a player. I thought all the coaches’ words were gospel. I never went with my gut because I listened too much and tried to do everything perfectly within the rule book.

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I didn’t start to truly find myself until I played the 2014 summer with the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League. I didn’t care about doing well to make my school, coach or summer team look good. My only goal that summer to prove to myself that I’m a badass and that I can rake. The reason why I struggled during my freshman season at school is because I was caught up in making mistakes. Instead, I should’ve been focused on how I can win each pitch. But I’ll tell you what, after that summer, I realized what I needed to start doing to be successful; play with your instincts a let ‘em hang.

By discovering myself as a baseball player and realizing who I am, that is when I became the most successful, which helps the team more than me being just another dime-a-dozen college baseball player. College was a necessary stepping stone for my development. Choosing to go to UF was the best decision I could’ve made. Struggling at the start, then becoming successful, led me to where I am today.

Pro ball in college seemed like a mythical, distant land. I was stuck in the SEC bubble where UF was the center of the universe. I felt so far away; it might as well be on the moon.

Now that I’m here, there are so many guys with me who I played with in high school and college. It’s funny how small the baseball world truly is. It’s the same game, similar and familiar people, but the mentality has changed. Now it’s a “gladiator mentality.” Believe it or not, baseball players and ancient Roman gladiators aren’t so different. Bats are our swords used to go on offense. Gloves are our shields, used for defense. We both wear helmets. Also, we have our own version of armor: elbow, foot, leg, and face guards.

.@PeterAlonso20, has been honored as the @EasternLeague Player of the Month for April!



In 21 games, he hit .408 with seven doubles, 7 HR, and 19 RBI. He compiled 10 multiple-hit games and posted a .505 on-base percentage with a .776 slugging percentage. pic.twitter.com/1iNpY1xciq — Rumble Ponies (@RumblePoniesBB) May 3, 2018

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We perform in stadiums with spectators staring down on us. When we think of gladiators, we think of the massive Coliseum in Rome. Just like us baseball players, gladiators have to work in order to get to Rome, or the Big Leagues. In order to earn their stripes, they have to perform in “the pits,” which are much smaller, less glamorous venues with way less attendance. Every gladiator had a vision of performing in Rome, as does every ball player with going to the Big Leagues.

Ballplayers and gladiators train and compete tirelessly to get to the highest level, but only the elite few get there. Every time I take the field, it's personal. My livelihood is on the line every day. This is how I’m going to feed my family one day. No one is going to take this away from me. It’s either going to be me or you; and it ain’t going to be me.

I am going to win the day. When the days add up, I will look up and be at my Rome — Citi Field.

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