SARASOTA, Fla. – A new manager isn’t muting the noise in camp.

Music blares on the back fields as the Orioles go through their drills. Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Green Day are on the expansive playlist.

Pete Alonso fields balls from Ryan Mountcastle at first base, steps on the bag and never loses track of the Blink-182 song in the background. He sings along to “I Miss You,” smiling throughout as he nails the lyrics.

The Polar Bear is noisy. He ribs teammates, praises and teases. No one was louder than Alonso during the first two live batting practice sessions, with his instant analysis, commentary and encouragement.  

Alonso leaned his back against the dugout railing, arms folded, and kept the chatter flowing. He called some pitches because someone had to do it. He offered his own commentary this afternoon on Colton Cowser’s line drive single to center field off Kyle Bradish.

“Oh, that’s a (expletive) knock, a blister.”

Bradish fanned Alonso with some high heat after an earlier walk to end the first “inning.” Alonso joined Bradish and catcher Adley Ruschman near the foul line and fist-bumped the team’s ace. Then he returned to his spot in foul territory and did some more talking.

He also lets his bat do it, like today’s homer off Tyler Wells.

Hit the ball and have one.

“Baseball’s fun, right?” said Craig Albernaz. “We want to have fun, but also, we want to work hard and we want to get after it. Pete does that the best.

“He was out there mixing in with the PFP group and working hard, then also chirping and having fun out there. So yeah, it’s the energy we need, especially with live BPs. I’m sure you guys when you watch it, it’s kind of just mundane and whatever, but we’re challenging our guys to talk a little crap, and told our pitchers, ‘Don’t be afraid to talk some crap back.’ You want to get those competitive juices flowing, but also, it’s fun. And also by chirping and talking crap to each other, it keeps the players accountable and it just adds a little light to the live BPs.”

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Rutschman said. “I only really got a chance to talk to him during the Home Run Derby in ’23. But very talented. Excited to have him, excited to get to know him.

“Obviously, he’s a veteran hitter. Knows what he’s doing in the box, has a great approach. I think the guys can learn a lot from him. Excited to have him in the clubhouse and get to know him more, see his personality. From what I’ve heard, it’s all great things, and he’s gonna add a lot.”

Closer Ryan Helsley spent a half-season with Alonso on the Mets before signing with the Orioles as a free agent. He’s thrilled with the reunion.

“He’s great,” Helsley said. “Outside looking in, you always have perceptions of people, but once I got to play with him, he became one of my favorite teammates pretty quickly in New York. We got along great, and excited to have him over here, and I think he’s going to be great for us.”

Alonso has a batter’s version of a mix, knowing when to grind and when to back off a little and soften the mood.

“It’s good,” he said. “We’re having fun, but we’re also working hard. It’s loose and fun, but also, give honest feedback. Live BPs are mostly for the pitchers and to give them feedback from a hitting perspective, it can always be super useful. If something looks good, you’re letting them know. And then also, too, you’re starting to get those competitive juices flowing early, so it’s fun.

“Especially if it’s inter-team competition like that, it’s always good, because it’s bragging rights for later on in the year.”

Alonso is putting his leadership stamp on this club. It’s undeniable and one of the reasons why the Orioles signed him to a five-year, $155 million contract that’s the second-richest in franchise history.

“Ultimately, it boils down to two things,” Alonso said. “One thing is show up, work every day and connect with people. And the second thing is, when the season comes around, you just go out, produce and win. That’s really it.”

Dean Kremer struck out Alonso yesterday with a splitter, eliciting another verbal response. Kremer was sharp in his two innings.

“He’s good, he’s really good,” Alonso said. “I was really impressed with his splitter. I know he’s a very big pitch-mix guy, like location guy, but his splitter looked nasty yesterday. I made sure to tell him that. Stuff looked good. I was really, really impressed with that pitch.”

Shane Baz also faced Alonso in his first action since the Orioles traded for him. He’s a mid-rotation arm with the potential to do much more.

“He’s got nasty stuff,” Alonso said. “Someone told me he’s got two different sliders now. Looked good. Both guys that I faced yesterday, they looked really crisp and good. It’s exciting for us.”

Alonso soon will be reunited with pitcher Chris Bassitt, his Mets teammate in 2022. The Orioles reached agreement with Bassitt this week on an $18.5 million contract.

“He’s a beauty,” Alonso said. “Chris is one of my all-time favorites. Big personality. Just having that veteran presence is not just good for the pitching staff, but good for the whole clubhouse. He brings energy every day. He’s a bulldog out there and I think he’s gonna be a huge addition for us, not just in the regular season but especially when we make that playoff stretch and that playoff run. I think having his experience and his vast baseball knowledge is gonna be huge.

“He’s a great personality, he’s a great human being. He’s gonna fit really well with this group of guys for sure.”

Helsley struck out Tyler O’Neill and Dylan Beavers while retiring all five batters in his live BP session.

“It’s always nice to get down to warmer weather,” he said, “and break a sweat a little bit and see guys in the box for the first time in four months and get the adrenaline rush going again and kind of get used to moving full speed again.”

Helsley signed a two-year, $28 million contract with an opt-out clause.

“I heard a lot of good things from guys that I know who have been over here recently,” he said. “It’s been great hospitality here and excited to get to play with Pete again and all the other young talented guys here. And excited to have (Chris) Bassitt now, too.”

Cade Povich, Brandon Young and Cameron Weston also pitched today while president of baseball operations Mike Elias sat behind home plate.