NEW YORK — Pete Alonso may have been born and raised in Tampa, but to the 31-year-old first baseman, New York will always feel a bit like home. And so will Citi Field, where the slugger became the Mets’ all-time home run leader during a seven-season run from 2019-25.
That’s why Monday felt special for the Polar Bear.
Alonso returned to Citi Field for the first time since signing a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles last December. He had played 1,158 big league games (including 1,008 for the Mets), but he had never gone up against the Mets — until now.
Rather than stepping into the Mets’ home clubhouse, Alonso went to the complete opposite end of a long hallway and prepared for Monday’s O’s-Mets series opener as a visitor.
“Honestly, it’s a little weird. But because we’re in the same building, there’s so much familiarity to it. It feels good,” Alonso said. “Obviously, I lived a lot of life here. It’s obviously really exciting to be back, and it’s really good to see all the guys and people over on the other side.”
Even though Alonso was wearing a different uniform for his return, the support was still there.
Alonso received loud applause from the Mets fans who were on the field for batting practice, some of them beginning a “Pete Alonso” chant. He received an emotional welcome back tribute just before first pitch, with fans again showing their appreciation for what he did in New York.
“Honestly, I’m very gracious and appreciative of all the years of support. It’s really special to have that,” Alonso said. “I care so much about leaving it all out on the field, really taking every opportunity and just giving it everything I have and emptying the tank every night. I’m glad that people appreciate that. For them to recognize and appreciate that continuously, it’s really special.”
The reasons why Alonso was loved in New York are the same ones why he’s been so warmly embraced since arriving in Baltimore.
Alonso’s play on the field speaks for itself. Entering Monday, he had played all 150 games, hitting .269 with 24 doubles, 35 home runs, an American League-leading 100 RBIs and an .863 OPS. His defense at first base has also been improved, and he’s been a clubhouse leader.
“From staff, fans, teammates, coaches, everyone has rolled out the red carpet for my family and I, and they made the transition so easy,” Alonso said. “I want to give the Orioles organization so much credit, because again, they made Baltimore home very quickly, and forever gracious for that.”
The Mets have been big spenders in free agency in recent years, and if they had wanted to, they potentially could have outbid the Orioles to bring back Alonso this past offseason. However, it became clear as the winter unfolded that Alonso wouldn’t be returning to New York.
Is there any part of Alonso that has used that as fuel following the separation?
“No, because when you have a good thing coming in free agency, when you have a really good opportunity, you have great dialogue, you don’t necessarily want to kind of ruin that. So for me, I didn’t want to look anywhere else because Baltimore was putting in a tremendous effort,” Alonso said. “I feel like Baltimore’s home. I just, again, feel so at home and really just so genuinely happy where it’s like I really see myself in a really good way with this organization. Hopefully, I get to finish my career here as an Oriole.”
If Alonso hits a home run during his return to Citi Field, it will be a noteworthy one. He entered the series with 299 career homers, so he has an opportunity to hit No. 300 at the ballpark where he’s slugged 123 before.
Alonso’s former teammate Francisco Lindor is also sitting at 299 home runs. So, it’s possible they could achieve the feat together.
“It’d be really cool if both of us could do it in the same game,” Alonso said. “Hopefully, we win the game. But if we were to do it the same day, that’d be really sick.”