Pete Alonso returned to Citi Field on Monday night wearing a Baltimore Orioles uniform for the first time, but the New York Mets fans who watched him build his career in Queens made it clear that changing teams had not changed their feelings toward him.
The former Mets star received a massive standing ovation before and during the Orioles’ 2-1 victory over New York, with fans repeatedly chanting his name ahead of each of his four plate appearances. Alonso went hitless in the game, but his return became one of the night’s biggest stories as Mets supporters celebrated a player who spent seven seasons becoming one of the most recognizable and productive sluggers in franchise history.
The reception came just hours after the Mets were officially eliminated from playoff contention by the Orioles’ victory. With the season already ending in disappointment for New York, Alonso’s return provided an emotional reminder of a much different era—one in which the powerful first baseman was routinely at the center of the Mets’ biggest moments.
Before the game, the Mets played a nearly two-minute tribute video honoring Alonso’s career in New York. The video highlighted his franchise-record 264 home runs, five All-Star selections, charitable work and some of the most memorable moments from his time with the organization. It also featured his first major-league home run, his two Home Run Derby victories and perhaps his most important postseason swing: the ninth-inning go-ahead homer against the Milwaukee Brewers in the decisive game of the 2024 Wild Card Series.
Alonso acknowledged the tribute and the crowd’s reaction by tipping his cap and tapping his glove as he was introduced over the public-address system. When he came to the plate for his first at-bat, the ovation grew even louder as “Layla,” one of his traditional walk-up songs, played throughout Citi Field. The scoreboard displayed a simple but powerful message: “Welcome Back, Pete!”
The former Mets first baseman also embraced catcher Francisco Alvarez before stepping into the batter’s box, adding another emotional element to a night filled with memories.
“Coming back and seeing everything kind of condensed like that, it’s special and it’s much appreciated,” Alonso said.
His first at-bat ended with a fly ball to right field, but the attention quickly shifted back to the Mets’ front office when portions of the crowd began chanting “Fire Stearns!” at president of baseball operations David Stearns. The reaction reflected the frustration surrounding a Mets season that fell dramatically short of expectations despite one of the largest payrolls in baseball.
Alonso’s second plate appearance provided perhaps the biggest tease of the night. He drew a walk in the third inning and later hooked a ball foul into the upper deck in left field, narrowly missing what would have been the 300th home run of his career. He eventually grounded out in the fifth and struck out in the eighth, immediately before Gunnar Henderson delivered the decisive solo home run that gave Baltimore the lead.
Despite failing to produce a hit, Alonso’s return still became a celebration of what he accomplished during his Mets tenure.
The 31-year-old remains one of the most productive power hitters in baseball. In his first season with Baltimore, Alonso entered the game batting .268 with 35 home runs, 100 RBIs and an .859 OPS. He also extended his consecutive-games streak to 567, which ranks second among active players.
Alonso’s departure from New York came after the 2025 season when he entered free agency and eventually signed a five-year, $155 million contract with Baltimore. The Mets chose to move forward without the player who had become synonymous with their lineup for much of the previous seven seasons.
The decision has become an especially interesting part of New York’s 2026 struggles. Despite beginning the season with an opening-day payroll exceeding $350 million, the Mets endured a 12-game losing streak in April and spent much of the campaign near the bottom of the National League East.
The production at first base has also highlighted what the Mets lost when Alonso left. New York first basemen have combined to hit only .235 with 18 home runs and a .682 OPS. Jared Young, Mark Vientos and Jorge Polanco have all spent time on the injured list, while Polanco signed a two-year, $40 million contract with the expectation that he would move around the infield and eventually take over the position Alonso occupied for years.
Alonso, however, made it clear that he holds no resentment toward the organization. Instead, he expressed gratitude for his time with the Mets while also appreciating the opportunity Baltimore gave him.
“I respect their decision,” Alonso said. “The guys running the team, it’s their prerogative to do whatever they think is best for them.”
He also emphasized that his appreciation for New York and his happiness in Baltimore can coexist.
“Two things can be true at the same time,” Alonso said, explaining that he remains extremely grateful for his years as a Met while being equally appreciative of the Orioles.
His next milestone is now drawing even more attention. Alonso entered the game with 299 career home runs, leaving him just one blast away from joining the 300-home-run club. Remarkably, former Mets teammate and close friend Francisco Lindor also has 299 career homers.
Alonso even joked about the possibility of reaching the milestone at the same time as Lindor.
“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.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Alonso could become only the third player to hit his 300th career home run against a team for which he previously played at least 1,000 games. Willie Horton accomplished the feat against Detroit while playing for Seattle in 1979, while Torii Hunter reached 300 against Minnesota while playing for Detroit in 2013.
That possibility adds another layer to Alonso’s already emotional return. Although he did not hit his historic home run at Citi Field, the night still served as a powerful reminder of his impact on the Mets organization and its fanbase.
Alonso arrived in New York as the 2019 National League Rookie of the Year after setting a major-league rookie record with 53 home runs. Over seven seasons, he became the Mets’ all-time home-run leader, made five All-Star teams and delivered some of the biggest moments of the franchise’s recent history.
His return showed that, regardless of where his career eventually takes him, his connection with Mets fans remains intact.
For one night, Alonso was the visiting first baseman, not the home-run threat Mets fans had grown accustomed to cheering. Yet Citi Field sounded much like it did during his Mets years. The chants, standing ovations and tribute video made the message unmistakable: Pete Alonso may no longer wear the Mets uniform, but his legacy in New York remains firmly established.
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