Alonso Returns To Citi Field
Pete Alonso Receives Emotional Welcome During Return To Citi Field As Orioles Star
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Key Points
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Before the game, Alonso visited the Mets clubhouse to greet former teammates and staff members and exchanged handshakes with owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex; the Mets also played his former walk-up song before his first at-bat.
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Alonso’s 4.1 fWAR entering the game sharply contrasted with the combined minus-0.4 fWAR produced by the Mets’ replacements at first base, underscoring the on-field impact of his departure.
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Alonso was drafted by New York in the second round of the 2016 draft and finished his Mets tenure with a franchise-record 264 home runs, surpassing Darryl Strawberry.
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Beyond his baseball career, Alonso and his wife, Haley, became closely connected to New York through community work, including support for animal shelters through the Alonso Foundation; he also entered the series as a father to their son, Teddy.
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Alonso entered the game tied with former teammate Francisco Lindor at 299 career home runs and was positioned to become only the third player, according to the Elisa Sports Bureau, to hit his 300th homer against a team for which he had played at least 1,000 games.
Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field on Monday as a Baltimore Oriole and received a thunderous standing ovation from Mets fans before his first at-bat WHEC. The moment was emotional: a tribute video played, his old walk-up song filled the stadium, and crowds chanted his name. But within seconds, those same fans shifted to chanting "Fire Stearns," directing their anger at Mets president David Stearns for letting their franchise icon walk away Heavy.
Alonso left New York after seven seasons as the Mets' all-time home run leader with 264 homers, then signed a five-year, $155 million deal with Baltimore Heavy. He has thrived with the Orioles, batting .268 with 35 home runs and 100 RBIs while playing every single game. Meanwhile, the Mets' replacement first basemen have combined for minus-0.4 fWAR — a stark contrast to Alonso's 4.1 fWAR SI.
A Homecoming That Stung the Front Office
Before the game, Alonso walked into the Mets clubhouse to greet old teammates and staff. He shook hands with owner Steve Cohen and his wife, Alex SNY. The organization honored him with a two-minute tribute video and played his former walk-up song. Alonso said afterward: "For me, I blinked, and the seven years went by. I'm just really grateful for the years, the experiences, the people" SNY.
Fans roared. But their applause quickly turned to anger directed at management. "Fire Stearns" echoed through Citi Field during Alonso's plate appearances. The chants captured the fan base's frustration: Alonso rejected a seven-year, $158 million extension in 2023, and the new regime chose not to match Baltimore's offer SI.
The Numbers Show Mets Made a Costly Mistake
Alonso became the Mets' franchise leader with 264 home runs, surpassing Darryl Strawberry's previous record. He won NL Rookie of the Year in 2019 after being drafted in the second round in 2016. Over seven seasons, he became the face of the franchise and a pillar of the New York community through the Alonso Foundation, which supports animal shelters and local causes WHEC.
The roster gap is impossible to ignore. Alonso's 4.1 fWAR towers over the combined minus-0.4 fWAR from the Mets' patchwork of Jorge Polanco and Jared Young at first base SI. The Mets were eliminated from playoff contention on Monday with a 69-81 record, while Alonso's Orioles chase an AL Wild Card spot SI.
Alonso Approaching Historic 300-Home-Run Milestone
Alonso entered Monday's game with 299 career home runs, tied with former teammate Francisco Lindor. He was on the verge of becoming only the third player in MLB history to hit his 300th home run against a team where he played at least 1,000 games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau Heavy.
The Orioles catcher has played every game this season, extending his consecutive-games-played streak to 563. At 30 years old with a five-year deal, Alonso continues delivering elite performance: a .268 average, 35 homers, 100 RBIs, and an .863 OPS. Baltimore remains hungry for a playoff berth despite recent struggles, including a six-game losing streak Heavy.
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