09/14/26 08:05:00
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09/14 20:04 CDT Pete Alonso returns to Citi Field with Orioles on verge of
300th home run
Pete Alonso returns to Citi Field with Orioles on verge of 300th home run
By JERRY BEACH
Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP) --- Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field on Monday night with the
Baltimore Orioles on the verge of his 300th home run and received a warm
reception from New York Mets fans.
"So many good memories here --- I played with so many good people, talented
people," Alonso said before the game. "It's going to be interesting to see what
emotions kind of bubble up, because you never can anticipate things that
happen."
Alonso, warming up along the third base line, tipped his hat following a nearly
two-minute tribute video shortly before first pitch. Minutes later, Alonso,
batting second, stepped to the plate and received another thunderous ovation as
the scoreboard read "Welcome Back, Pete!"
Alonso again tipped his cap before flying out to right. The crowd then began
yelling "Fire Stearns,!" a chant aimed at Mets president of baseball operations
David Stearns.
Alonso entered Monday hitting .269 with 35 homers, an AL-high 100 RBIs and an
.863 OPS for the last-place Orioles. He had a 4.1 fWAR while his Mets
replacements were at minus-0.4.
He left the Mets after the 2025 season as a free agent to sign a $155 million,
five-year contract with Baltimore. New York, which didn't push to re-sign him,
began the night on the verge of postseason elimination.
"I respect their decision --- the guys running the team, it's their prerogative
to do whatever they think is best for them," Alonso said. "Two things can be
true at the same time: I'm very happy and appreciative of my time I spent as a
Met and I'm beyond grateful and appreciative for the Baltimore Orioles."
Fans sporting Alonso's old No. 20 with the Mets cheered and chanted his name
during batting practice. Alonso exchanged greetings with former teammate Jose
Iglesias as well as Mets owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex.
The Mets made the playoffs twice with Alonso. He was drafted by the Mets and
hit a team record 264 homers, topping Darryl Strawberry.
"I appreciate all the support and people keeping up," Alonso, said. "I care so
much about leaving it all on the field, pouring all the emotion I have and
emptying the tank every night. And I'm glad that people appreciated that."
Alonso entered Monday with 299 career homers, the same number as friend and
former teammate Francisco Lindor. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Alonso
could become just the third player to his 300th career homer against a team for
whom he played in 1,000 or more games.
Willie Horton hit his 300th career homer against the Detroit Tigers in 1979
while Torii Hunter did so for the Tigers against the Minnesota Twins in 2013.
"I know ?Paco' is chasing down that same milestone, so it'd be really cool if
both of us could do it in the same game," Alonso said. "That'd really be sick."
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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