Pete Alonso’s Early Struggles with the Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE – Through his first 13 games as an Oriole, Pete Alonso hasn’t quite lived up to the hype. The “Polar Bear” hasn’t been consistently delivering the power hitting that earned him a lucrative five-year, $155 million contract this offseason. While expectations were sky-high, both from the team, fans, and most importantly, himself, Alonso acknowledges his performance hasn’t met those standards.
“Yeah, it stinks, first couple weeks, not performing up to my standards,” Alonso admitted after an 0-for-3 performance with a walk in the series opener against the Giants at Camden Yards. “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.”
Numbers Tell the Story
Alonso’s current batting average sits at .176 with an OPS of .538. His only home run came on March 31st against a familiar face, Jacob deGrom. Since then, he’s hit just 3-for-32 (.094) in his last eight games. This is a stark contrast to the player Baltimore invested in, a five-time All-Star and 2025 National League Silver Slugger Award winner with 265 career home runs.
“This is not my standard. Results-wise, yeah, it’s unacceptable for me, and I will be better. I know that. But yeah, it’s not fun,” Alonso stated. “I know, for me, if I’m not producing in big spots with guys on base, it’s not good for the team. I will be better. I feel bad. A lot of people believe in me, and I believe in myself, but I’m not delivering results. I will. I just haven’t. But I will.”
Key Moments and At-Bat Analysis
Alonso has had several opportunities to make a significant impact in crucial situations. In the first inning against the Giants, with a runner on second and no outs, he struck out looking on a 3-0 count. Later, with runners on second and third, he struck out swinging on a curveball. These missed opportunities highlight his current struggles with plate discipline and timing.
Alonso reflected on his approach, saying, “First at-bat, I thought I did a good job of laying off some pitcher’s pitches, and he got me. And then, I got over-aggressive my next two at-bats, I let that seep into my next two at-bats, which for me, it’s unacceptable.”
Manager’s Perspective
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz believes Alonso’s struggles aren’t due to a lack of preparation. He suggests Alonso might be overthinking his approach, trying to control too much instead of simply reacting. “It looks like he’s trying to handle too much as far as the prep in his approach… It’s just more of the pitches to hit and what he’s taking and then what he’s swinging at.”
Team Support and Outlook
Despite Alonso’s slow start, the Orioles remain confident in his ability to turn things around. Other players, like Gunnar Henderson and Taylor Ward, are contributing offensively, providing a positive outlook for the team. Henderson has already hit five of Baltimore’s nine home runs, while Ward has recorded 10 doubles in his first 13 games – a feat not seen since 1900.
Right-hander Shane Baz expressed the team’s unwavering belief in Alonso: “I don’t think anybody’s worried about Pete. He’ll be just fine.” Catcher Samuel Basallo echoed this sentiment, stating, “Everybody goes through that sometimes… I believe he is one of the best players in the game. It’s just a matter of days until he gets it going here soon.”
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