Pete Alonso has become a whole lot more than the big bat the Baltimore Orioles went out and got.
That was the idea when the Orioles pushed hard to sign the former New York Mets slugger, believing they were one power hitter away from taking a real step forward in 2026. Instead, they’ve found themselves in the final week still hanging around, even if a playoff berth remains a long shot. And along the way, Alonso has started to carve out a role that goes beyond his production in the lineup.
The numbers are exactly what Baltimore hoped for. Entering Thursday, Alonso was hitting .264/.359/.512 with 41 home runs, 110 RBI and a 144 wRC+, his best mark since his standout rookie season in 2019.
His 4.7 fWAR is already tied with his top total, also from 2019. For a club trying to build toward 2027, he has clearly become one of the core pieces.
But the more interesting development is happening away from the batter’s box.
Alonso is beginning to look like a clubhouse presence the Orioles can lean on. At 31, he’s been through plenty in the majors, and that experience matters in a room full of younger players trying to find their footing. He’s also a familiar, respected figure around the league, the kind of veteran whose example carries weight because he understands both the grind and the pressure that come with the job.
“I believe in the Baseball Gods, and I honestly believe I’m here for a reason. I was always meant to be a Baltimore Oriole,” Alonso said, per reporter Andy Kostka.
That sense of pride has shown up in small moments, too. After Baltimore’s final home game of the year on Wednesday, Alonso called his Orioles teammates back onto the field so they could salute the Camden Yards crowd. It was the kind of gesture that doesn’t show up in a box score, but fans noticed and appreciated it all the same.
Pete Alonso called his Orioles teammates back onto the field to salute the Baltimore crowd after their final home game of the year pic.twitter.com/qTF3k9vKrb
His teammates went along with it, and the scene gave the home fans one more good moment before the season wound down.
Whether the Orioles are officially eliminated on Thursday or sometime over the weekend, they’ll head into the offseason knowing Alonso has given them something real: production, stability and a veteran voice that carries respect in the room.
In Other News...
Orioles Doubleheader Featured A Baseball First Few Fans Ever Expected
A quirky bit of baseball history unfolded at Camden Yards during the Blue Jays-Orioles doubleheader, when identical twins Austin and Tyler Jones became the first twins to work the same umpiring crew in a Major League Baseball game. The siblings have shared crews before in the minors, but this was their first time doing it on the sports biggest stage, a rare pairing that gave an ordinary April doubleheader a little extra texture.
Their families were there to see it, which made the moment feel even more personal in a setting usually defined by routine calls and fast pacing. For the Jones brothers, it was clearly more than a scheduling oddity, and for everyone in the park, it was the kind of baseball-first detail that tends to stick with you long after the final out. [Read more 🡒]
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Just Gave Orioles Fans More To Say About Toronto
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has made himself a familiar talking point in Baltimore over the years, and his latest comments only give Orioles fans more reason to keep one eye on Toronto. Speaking about his down season, Guerrero said his contract was built on what he had already done, not on a promise about what was still ahead, a reminder of how much weight follows a player with that kind of profile and expectation.
Guerrero did express regret about how this year unfolded, but he stood by the original remark and framed the whole situation as part of the pressure that comes with a major deal. He also said he is continuing to work hard to get better for next season, leaving the Blue Jays star with one more layer of scrutiny as Baltimore keeps tracking every turn in the division race. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Fans Sent A Clear Message Despite One Worry Looming
The Orioles final home game of the season still drew a reminder of how quickly the mood around Camden Yards can shift. A rainout the day before left the stands thinner than usual for the doubleheader opener, but the second game brought back the kind of energy Baltimore fans have shown all year, with the crowd sounding more like a team still in the hunt than one wrapping up the calendar.
Pete Alonso also had the larger picture on his mind, even as the Orioles finished out their home schedule. With the leagues labor deal set to expire in December, there is already some worry about what comes next, though Alonso said he hopes negotiations are resolved without any games being lost, pointing back to the 2022 lockout as a warning sign. Craig Albernaz, meanwhile, noticed the support from the stands and had reason to appreciate it, even with the uncertainty hanging over the sport. [Read more 🡒]