Alonso’s First Bronx Blast Sends Message After Leaving Queens

Clear Facts

• Pete Alonso crushed a second-deck home run at Yankee Stadium in his first return to New York City as a visiting player
• The former Mets slugger signed with the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason after spending six years in Queens
• Alonso joked about New York’s infamous traffic upon arrival, calling it an “insufferable wall” compared to Baltimore

For the first time in his professional career, Pete Alonso took the field in New York City wearing a uniform other than the orange and blue of the Mets. The power-hitting first baseman made his return to the Big Apple on Friday, but instead of heading to his familiar Queens stomping grounds, he traveled to the Bronx as a member of the Baltimore Orioles.

Before he could even step into Yankee Stadium, Alonso got a reminder of what makes New York unique. His team flew into Newark, and the slugger immediately recognized where he was thanks to the city’s legendary gridlock.

<"We flew into Newark, and then, I'm like, 'We're definitely back because we hit an insufferable wall of traffic,'" Alonso told SNY. "So it was definitely (like), 'Yeah, alright, we're here. We're back; we are for sure back. This is unmistakably New York City.'"

When asked if Baltimore didn’t have traffic, Alonso cracked a smile.

“No, they do, just not an insufferable wall of traffic,” he joked.

The first baseman, who launched his career with the Mets in 2019, admitted it felt great to be back in New York and reflect on his time in the city. Those reflections likely took fans back to his explosive rookie season when he smashed 53 home runs and established himself as one of baseball’s premier power threats.

Alonso made sure his return to New York would be memorable. In the top of the second inning, he connected on a 1-1 pitch from Yankees right-hander Will Warren and absolutely demolished it. The ball rocketed into the second deck in right field, a blast so deep the cameraman seemed stunned by the distance.

That towering shot marked Alonso’s fifth home run of the season and ranks among the most satisfying of his career. The only thing that could top it? A home run when the Orioles head to Queens for their upcoming three-game series against his former team.

Alonso’s departure from the Mets marked the end of an era for a franchise that never quite capitalized on his prodigious power. Now in Baltimore, he’s bringing that same force to a team with championship aspirations. His performance in the Bronx showed he’s ready to prove the Mets made a mistake letting him walk.

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