The enthusiasm that first baseman Pete Alonso showed for the Orioles and the city of Baltimore at his news conference after signing his five-year, $155 million deal hasn’t waned over the past month.
It actually seems to be more intense.
Alonso gushed again on Thursday over a roster that’s still in the construction phase while president of baseball operations/general manager Mike Elias searches for another starter and a few more pieces prior to the Orioles gathering in Sarasota for spring training.
“It’s looking really complete,” Alonso said on the “Orioles Hot Stove Show” on WBAL Radio. “You go from, whether that be the position player group, starting pitchers, to the bullpen, there’s a lot of phenomenal pieces. And Mike’s not done. It’s going to be really exciting to see who else we add.”
He wasn’t done.
“This team, this city, I’m just beyond excited for it,” Alonso added. “Working with Craig (Albernaz) and the rest of the coaching staff, for me, this just feels so right on so many levels, and I’m just beyond excited for this year. And for me, the exciting thing is, because we have such a talented group, it’s like, ‘OK, let’s see what we’re made of.’ To go for the division and playoff spot and then hunt down a championship in October.”
The offseason is far from typical for Alonso after he went through free agency and left New York. Even his preparation for spring training and the 2026 season isn’t exactly the same.
“If not, I’m doubling down on the work, whether it be the lifts, the cage work, glove work, conditioning aspect,” he said.
“Signing here with the O’s and being with this organization, obviously I work incredibly hard and I take pride in my craft, but for me, it just excites me. This offseason has just been so invigorating and it just brings so much motivation every single day because I’m so excited, I’m so juiced for 2026 and beyond. Not just for myself but for the city, for the team. This is going to be … again, I could go on and on, but I’m just so excited for this year. I can’t wait for mid-February to roll around and we get together down in Sarasota.”
Alonso doesn’t typically set personal goals heading into a season. The team-oriented side of his baseball personality won’t allow it.
“To be honest, my goal is to win a championship, and that’s really it,” he said. “Baseball is such a weird game where you have to let the game present you with opportunities. You can’t necessarily force something. It’s really difficult to have a perfect season in baseball. I mean, yeah, you have your hallmark stuff that you look at, but for me, whatever I can do to help win a baseball game that day, I want to do. And I want to stay on the field. I want to play every single day, fight the fight with the fellas, and do whatever I can in my role to help win every single day.
“That’s really all I want to do. I want to win ballgames and be the best possible version of myself I can every single day.”
The Orioles will distribute Alonso bobbleheads to the first 15,000 fans attending the Aug. 22 game against the Rays at Camden Yards.
How many times has a team held a bobblehead night for Alonso?
“To be honest, it’s probably maybe two,” he said. “I don’t know. It could be like maybe three. Two or three.
“I’m honored and hopefully I’m allowed to snag a couple before they pass them out.”
I asked in jest whether the likenesses are spot-on as usual.
“They’re all perfect,” he quipped.
“No blemishes, no nothing. They get everything right down to every single detail. Yeah, every single one is perfect.”
Alonso is a five-time All-Star and prolific home run hitter, with 264 over seven seasons, but he’s got a lot to learn about one of Maryland’s delicacies.
As a Tampa native, he’s unfamiliar with the art of cracking blue crabs.
Cal Ripken Jr. used to demonstrate the proper technique to players, whether in the clubhouse or on the team charter, and he might be needed again now that he’s part of the ownership group. It sounds like a golden social media opportunity.
“Huge thing down here in Florida is stone crabs,” Alonso said. “I think it’s, what, blue crabs up there? For me, I mean, I love seafood. I know you guys have not just great crabs but great oysters. On the Chesapeake there’s some phenomenal seafood. I love seafood. Being from Florida, I’m used to having fresh fish and shellfish. I’m all for it.
“I love crab cakes. I know that’s the easy way. But for me, I want to learn how to pick a crab. I don’t know how, but I want to be taught properly.”
Perhaps the Iron Man should sit down with the Polar Bear.