Former Mets Star Pete Alonso Struggles With Orioles

The slugger is off to a slow start in Baltimore after leaving New York in free agency.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:25pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, orange, and white representing the dynamic action on the field.Alonso's sluggish start in Baltimore underscores the difficulty of replacing a star player's production.Baltimore Today

Former New York Mets star first baseman Pete Alonso has struggled mightily to begin his career with the Baltimore Orioles. In 13 games with the Orioles, Alonso is batting just .176 with one home run and three RBIs, a far cry from his production in New York where he was a five-time All-Star and the franchise's all-time home run leader.

Why it matters

Alonso's slow start is a concern for the Orioles, who signed him to a five-year, $155 million contract in the offseason to be a key part of their lineup. The Mets, meanwhile, have had to replace Alonso's production by signing third baseman Bo Bichette and first baseman Jorge Polanco, both of whom have also gotten off to slow starts in Queens.

The details

Through 13 games with the Orioles, Alonso is slashing just .176/.263/.275 with a .538 OPS. He has only nine hits in 51 at-bats and his lone home run of the season came against former Mets ace Jacob deGrom on March 31. Alonso is 3-for-32 (.094) in his last eight games.

  • Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million contract with the Orioles in free agency this past offseason.
  • Alonso's lone home run of the season came against former Mets ace Jacob deGrom on March 31.
  • Alonso is 0-for-3 with a walk in the Orioles' 6-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants on April 11.

The players

Pete Alonso

A former star first baseman for the New York Mets who is now struggling to start his career with the Baltimore Orioles after signing a five-year, $155 million contract in free agency.

Bo Bichette

A third baseman signed by the Mets in free agency to help replace Alonso's production, but he is also off to a slow start in Queens.

Jorge Polanco

A first baseman signed by the Mets in free agency to help replace Alonso, but he has been limited to 10 games so far due to an Achilles injury.

Mark Vientos

A Mets prospect who has seemingly claimed the first base job early on due to his hot start at the plate, showing Alonso-like power.

Brett Baty

A Mets prospect who has also seen time at first base as the team tries to replace Alonso's production.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, it stinks, first couple weeks, not performing up to my standards. You can work hard, you can try, but that's not why I'm here. I'm here to win. And I expect more out of myself, and I know other people do as well. So it's frustrating.”

— Pete Alonso

What’s next

The Orioles will continue to rely on Alonso to be a key part of their lineup as they look to turn things around after a slow start to the season.

The takeaway

Alonso's struggles in Baltimore highlight the challenges of replacing a star player, as both the Mets and Orioles have had to adjust to life without the slugger's production in the middle of their lineups.