Jonah Tong did just about everything right Monday night at Citi Field. The 23-year-old Mets prospect went six innings against the Orioles and didn’t allow an earned run.
But the story of the night wasn’t his line. It was Pete Alonso.
Alonso’s return to Queens instantly hijacked the atmosphere. In the third inning, he came within a hair of his 300th career home run, sending a ball 381 feet into foul territory off Tong. The crowd roared for the near-miss, then turned on Tong when the at-bat ended in a walk.
That reaction caught the attention of people around the team.
“The Mets have an unbelievable and passionate fan base,” a source close to the situation told FanSided. “Pete is an unbelievable player who deserves whatever they feel is warranted to thank him for nearly 10 seasons there. With that being said, a home-team pitcher uses and feeds off a crowd's energy.”
Tong’s place in all of this made the boos feel even stranger. He’s only 23 and still settling in at the major league level.
He dominated the minors in 2025, then went through an uneven season in Triple-A this year before finishing strong with his last four starts there. Since being recalled, he’s looked solid in two starts.
“(Fans) paid for a ticket, so if you wish to cheer for the opposing team, I guess that’s your choice,” the source continued. “I think anyone would be surprised by the logic of wanting your own player to fail so an opposing player can succeed. Definitely (a) unique situation.”
Francisco Lindor had a similar message after Monday’s game. “Next time, let's clap a little bit more for him,” he said of Tong.
The whole thing only escalated a night later. Alonso crushed his 300th career home run off Kodai Senga in the ninth inning to tie the game, and the Citi Field crowd celebrated the franchise icon loudly.
That reaction rubbed some Mets players the wrong way, including Sean Manaea.
“I love him to death, but as the 2026 Mets - I know we've definitely underperformed - the guys in here work their ass off every single day. To have that reaction to an opposing player is crazy to me,” Manaea said.
For the Mets, the Alonso reception over the last two games says plenty about how raw the feelings still are. Fans are still upset about letting the “polar bear” leave in free agency, and that frustration spilled over in a way that hit Tong, a pitcher the organization may well be counting on down the line.
In Other News...
Sean Manaea Had A Brutally Awkward Reaction To Mets Fans
Pete Alonsos return to Citi Field came with the kind of built-in drama that only baseball can provide, and the crowd played its part. On a night when he launched his 300th career home run against the Mets, the former franchise centerpiece took a curtain call and was met with cheers from the home fans, who still seemed happy to salute one of the most recognizable hitters in recent team history.
Sean Manaea, though, didnt exactly hide how he felt about the moment. The Mets starter said the reaction was crazy, making clear he respects Alonso but wasnt comfortable with how warmly the ballpark embraced the celebration. Alonso, meanwhile, kept working the room after the blast, trading memorabilia with the fans who caught the ball and even offering tickets to games in Baltimore, another reminder that his bond with Mets supporters remains complicated in all the familiar ways. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Manager Search Just Became A Huge Offseason Gamble
The Mets managerial search has already turned into one of the more revealing decisions of the offseason, and not just because the job opened earlier than anyone in Queens expected. After the team was eliminated from postseason contention and moved on from Carlos Mendoza in June, Andy Green stepped in as the interim manager and is expected to slide back into a front office role, leaving Steve Cohen and David Stearns to sort through a search that carries real weight for how the organization wants to move forward.
The list of names being considered underscores how wide open this process may be, with reports pointing to Carlos Beltran and Albert Pujols, two prominent former players who have no Major League Baseball managerial experience. Cohen will have the final say, with Stearns involved in the decision, and the choice now feels less like a routine hire than a test of how much the Mets are willing to bet on reputation, leadership traits and projection over a conventional track record. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Players Just Weighed In On Citi Fields Pete Alonso Problem
Pete Alonsos milestone 300th career home run at Citi Field brought out a reaction few around the Mets expected. Sean Manaea and Francisco Lindor both said they were surprised, and a little frustrated, to hear a portion of the crowd cheer for the former Met in a moment that should have belonged to the visiting slugger and the home ballpark he once called his own.
Andy Green acknowledged the oddity of it, but cast the response in a broader light, saying it reflected respect for players who do something special. Still, the scene fit into a series that has already felt charged in the stands, with fans sending mixed signals throughout and even breaking into chants aimed at president David Stearns, another reminder that the mood around the club can shift fast depending on who is at the plate and whats at stake. [Read more 🡒]