Do you remember how you felt when you heard that the Orioles signed Pete Alonso to a five-year contract? Shock was my biggest feeling. Alonso is an actual star and not the kind of player the Orioles have gone after in a long time.
Alonso has been an All-Star for the last four seasons. He’s played at least 150 games in each of those seasons and, including 162 in both 2024 and 2025. Last year, he hit 38 home runs and 41 doubles. In the last five seasons, he has slugged 195 home runs, ranging from 34-46
each year. The dude can flat out hit.
There is a question of Alonso’s defense at first base. He has been a below-average fielder his entire career, and last season he posted a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) of -9. Statcast rates his range and arm both poorly, though at least at first base he won’t be making a lot of tough throws.
Multiple projection systems point to another strong season for Alonso:
- ZiPS: 152 games, 38 HR, .274/.348/.536, wRC+ 143
- Baseball Reference: 648 PA, 33 HR, .247/.331/.484
Do any of those numbers stack up to your expectations? How many home runs do you think our new home run king will hit? Will his durability continue, or will he finally fall to injury? ZiPs, which is higher on Alonso than BRef, projects an fWAR of 4.1. That would be the second-best of his career. Is that realistic?
Since he signed with the Orioles in December, Pete Alonso has said and done all the right things. But until we see his performance on the field, I will be nervous. That has less to do with Alonso’s history and more to do with my personal insecurity as an Orioles fan.
How do you feel?
