The Mets got their biggest crowd at Citi Field on Monday since July 25 against the Dodgers for all the wrong reasons, as just about everyone in the stands was there for the same reason: to cheer Pete Alonso.
Before the game and each of his plate appearances in Baltimore’s 2-1 win, Alonso received a raucous ovation.
“It was awesome,’’ Alonso said. “It was much appreciated.’’
And while this day was almost certainly never going to be an easy one for the Mets, with Alonso’s name etched in the team’s history before he was allowed to depart as a free agent for Baltimore in the offseason, it was made more difficult by what’s happened since he left.
The first baseman’s long-awaited return was marked not only by the numerous “Pete Alonso” chants and a sea of his old No. 20 Mets jerseys, but also a loud “Fire Stearns” chorus, as the masses made their displeasure regarding president of baseball operations David Stearns known as loudly as they have all year.
Asked about the fanbase’s anger regarding the team letting him leave, Alonso said, “I take it as they appreciate what I brought to the field and the pride of giving everything I have every single night. The years of effort and performance.”
What’s made Alonso’s absence even more glaring than perhaps the Mets had anticipated is the fact that as the ever-durable slugger made yet another start at first base — he’s been in the lineup for every game this season, as is usually the case — the Mets have gone through seven players to try to replace him thanks in part to Jorge Polanco’s injury-filled season.
As much as the 35 homers and 100 RBIs have defined Alonso’s year, so have his 151 games played. And his .863 OPS dwarfed the .685 mark Mets first basemen have put up this season, tied for the third worst in the majors.
No one on the Mets can say they haven’t missed a game. That reliability and production are just parts of Alonso’s game the team has missed in this lost season.
Lindor called Alonso “one of the most beloved players to come through here.”
But even the shortstop didn’t foresee the dropoff being so great without Alonso.
“We thought the guys we acquired were gonna help us win games,’’ Lindor said. “We just haven’t performed our best.”
And Alonso, for the most part, has.
Despite going 0-for-3 with a walk on Monday, he still has some of the best numbers in the majors. And he made a bid for his 300th career homer with a long foul ball down the left field line in the third.
Pete Alonso honored with video tribute and standing ovation ahead of return to Citi Field.
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) September 14, 2026pic.twitter.com/EGUdIx0ZIG
“My job is to play, and I want to do whatever I can for my team to help win the game,’’ Alonso said. “For me, I love playing. I relish every opportunity I get to go out and put the uniform on. It’s a special opportunity to play baseball for a job. I take pride in it.”
The Mets were ready to move on from Alonso, and he reiterated that once Baltimore made a strong offer early last offseason, he was interested.
“I didn’t want to mess up a good thing,’’ Alonso said of why he was willing to act quickly when the Orioles came knocking with a five-year, $155 million contract offer.
As for the Mets and their willingness to let him go, Alonso said, “I respect their decision. The guys running the team, it’s their prerogative to do whatever they think is best. I respect it professionally. At the same time, I’m so stoked to be an Oriole. I feel very, very fortunate to be here. I feel very fortunate to play all those years I had with the Mets. Two things can be true.”
He recalled his favorite memory as a Met as the homer in the 2024 wild-card series in Milwaukee, but acknowledged the rough times in Queens, as well.
As for this year’s disappointing Mets team, Alonso said, “I know there’s so much talent over there. I’ve been part of teams with a lot of talent that didn’t get it done. … You can have all the talent and then injuries [happen] or things are not clicking. It’s baseball. You hate to say that, but it happens. You can’t necessarily predict things and have things work out in a perfect manner.”
That’s putting it mildly.
And while Alonso’s bat helped get the Orioles back into the wild-card race last month, they are three games out of the final spot with four teams to pass.
But for a night, he had reason to look back fondly on his days with the Mets.
“New York is always gonna feel like some kind of homecoming,’’ Alonso said. “New York will always be a special place for my family.”
