The slam-dunk selection also was unanimous.

First baseman Pete Alonso has been chosen Most Valuable Oriole in voting by media covering or hovering around the team.

Heading into today’s doubleheader, Alonso is batting .265/.359/.510 with 24 doubles, 40 home runs and 108 RBIs that lead the American League. He’s played in every game. And his 4.6 bWAR and 4.5 fWAR also rank first on the club.

Alonso could be a top five finisher for American League Most Valuable Player. He already was a lock for MVO before attaining his fourth career 40-homer season.

The five-time All-Star is the fourth player to hit 40 homers in his first career season with the Orioles after Frank Robinson (49), Mark Trumbo (47) and Nelson Cruz (40), and he’s the ninth player in franchise history with 40, including Chris Davis twice.

No other player besides Alonso has hit 40-plus homers in his first season in each league, and no player has led both leagues in RBIs, which Alonso has a chance to do.

“He exceeded my expectations, just the off the field what he brings, because I didn’t really know him, know him, but now just being around him every single day, that’s been the most impressive thing,” said manager Craig Albernaz.

“Obviously, his baseball card, his accolades, the track record is there. Hitting 40 home runs and having over 100 RBIs in this league is really impressive and the consistency he does it, that doesn’t happen by accident. Just all the work he puts in behind the scenes.”

The highlights in a disappointing season for the Orioles also include Alonso’s 300th career home run, which he hit at Citi Field to tie a game in the ninth inning that they won in extras. He received a curtain call, a rarity for a player wearing gray pants, and added No. 301 the following night.

Alonso, the eighth first baseman to be chosen MVO, became the 171st player in history to join the 300 home run club.

“That’s why you sign a guy like Pete, to come up in that spot and hit a huge home run in a huge moment,” Coby Mayo said afterward. “It just speaks volumes of how good a player he is and kind of how big he’s been for this team this year. I don’t know where we’d be without him. He’s been unbelievable.”

“He’s such a freaking dog,” said Shane Baz. “He just plays through everything. He never complains. He’s just Steady Eddie for us. It’s just like he’s always there. You can count on him. You just love having guys like that.”

A below-average defensive reputation didn’t follow Alonso to Baltimore. He could be a finalist for a Gold Glove in the American League.

The Orioles signed Alonso to a five-year, $155 million contract over the winter, the second-largest deal in franchise history, and already received a huge return on their investment. And that includes the leadership he’s brought to the clubhouse and in the dugout.

“I’m glad it’s me not pitching against him anymore and I can sit in the dugout and actually enjoy homers when he hits them,” said Trevor Rogers. “He’s a special player, a special human. I’m glad that he’s in this clubhouse, and he’s been playing some unbelievable baseball”

Asked on Sunday whether Alonso is everything he expected or perhaps more, bench coach Donnie Ecker replied, “More.”

“Yeah, that’s what it looks like,” Ecker said. “My belief on any long-term contract is, if you’re gonna do anything over three years, especially when we get into the five-year, 10-year range, that person has to have behaviors that impact the environment. You want that guy to have a compound effect where he gets people better.

“I’ve been lucky to be around some of those guys in San Francisco and Texas, and Pete’s up there with the best I’ve seen, and just in terms of caring for the people around him, and really not ever settling for average.”

Alonso was chosen as the Orioles’ nominee for the Roberto Clemente award and received his award on Friday, and he was given his Heart and Hustle award before Sunday’s game.

The honors didn’t stop there.

Left-hander Trevor Rogers received the MVO Award last season after Gunnar Henderson’s back-to-back selections.

Center fielder Cedric Mullins was the last unanimous choice in 2021.

Other players appearing on ballots this year included Rogers, Henderson, Brandon Young, Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander, Samuel Basallo, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish and Rico Garcia.

I picked Alonso first and Young second and labored over the third choice before settling on Rogers over Mayo. There wasn’t a wrong answer between those two.

*Samuel Basallo is out of the lineup for Game 1.

For the Orioles
Dylan Beavers LF
Pete Alonso 1B
Gunnar Henderson SS
Coby Mayo DH
Christian Encarnacion-Strand 3B
Colton Cowser CF
Jeremiah Jackson 2B
Leody Taveras RF
Carlos Narváez C
Chris Bassitt RHP