Pete Alonso and the Baltimore Orioles dropped two straight games over the weekend.
Pete Alonso has had an excellent individual season in his first year with the Baltimore Orioles. Alonso signed this past offseason on a massive five-year, $155 million deal, and after a slow start he has been one of the best hitters in MLB since June. Across 150 games he has posted a .269 batting average, .363 on-base percentage and .862 OPS.
During Sunday's game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Alonso collected his 100th RBI of the season, putting him in sole possession of the most in the league. He also homered during Saturday's game at Rogers Centre, his 299th career home run, putting him one away from a milestone that only 170 players in the history of the sport have ever reached.
However, Baltimore lost both of those games, and that was all that was on Alonso's mind when reporters asked him what it meant to be on the verge of 300 career home runs.
"I mean, yeah, great, awesome. But, today, I got my 100th RBI. Whoop-de-do. Didn't win the game. I play to win," Alonso said, via Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner.
For Alonso the message was clear. Individual accolades mean nothing without winning, and he wants to bring playoff baseball back to Camden Yards. His passion and competitive drive were on full display in that postgame moment, and it is exactly the kind of leadership this young Orioles roster needs from its highest-paid player.
Unfortunately, bringing playoff baseball back to Baltimore is not looking like a possibility this season. With just 12 games remaining and a four-game deficit for the final American League wild card spot with multiple teams ahead of them in the standings, the Orioles are all but mathematically eliminated from contention.
Fortunately for Baltimore, Alonso is still performing at the peak of his powers and is under contract for four more years. He is not the only player locked in either, as the Orioles have signed several core pieces to extensions as well. However, this season has been another disappointment just as 2025 was, and the Orioles will not be playing in October for the second straight year.
Alonso has taken it upon himself to be a leader in the clubhouse, drawing on the experience he accumulated over seven seasons with the New York Mets. His selfless attitude at least shows the front office invested in a player with genuine character who will push this team in the right direction moving into 2027.
The Orioles head to Citi Field on Monday to take on the Mets, marking Alonso's first time playing at the stadium as a visiting player.
