Pete Alonso made his first appearance in New York since signing with the Baltimore Orioles, homering on his first swing against the Yankees in the Bronx. The 31-year-old slugger reflected on his Mets past amid a three-game series opener Friday night. He expressed contentment with his new team despite a slow start to the season.
Pete Alonso stepped back into New York City for the first time since joining the Baltimore Orioles on a five-year, $155 million contract. Baltimore opened a three-game series against the Yankees in the Bronx on Friday night. The slugger, who began his pro career with Low-A Brooklyn and spent seven seasons as the Mets' franchise home run leader, described the trip as a return to the old neighborhood. “Waking up, walking around, I know I don’t live here anymore. But being here for so long, it’s just back in the old neighborhood,” he said. “It’s nice, obviously.”
In the second inning, Alonso launched a home run to the second deck in right field off Yankees pitcher Will Warren. Yankees fans booed, and one spectator threw the ball back onto the field. Alonso had opted out of his final Mets contract year after their 2025 season ended in Miami, prioritizing family time after his wife Haley gave birth to their first child, Teddy.
Alonso highlighted his quick fit with Baltimore during free agency. “Both the Orioles as an organization and myself, I feel like we align and fit perfectly,” he said. “When you have something good, you focus on it.” He consulted former Mets teammates like Sean Manaea and Ryne Stanek, plus manager Carlos Mendoza, but held no final talks with Mets executives David Stearns or owner Steve Cohen.
Entering Friday, Alonso was hitting .198/.306/.362 with four home runs for the Orioles (15-16), third in the AL East. Focused on Baltimore, he encouraged the struggling Mets (10-21): “Baseball is a long season. It’s a marathon,” citing their 2024 turnaround.
