Pete Alonso had just hit his 30th home run, a mark he’s reached and blown past in every full season in the majors. The ball traveled 443 feet to left-center field to break a tie in the fifth inning. Alonso made the much shorter walk to his locker afterward, with media following him like ducklings. He exhibits a caring side to the group that isn’t common among athletes.

Also noticeable is the way he looks after his teammates.

Alonso paused the start of his locker interview to check on Christian Encarnacion-Strand, letting the third baseman know that he’d only be a few minutes and they could proceed with their plans.

Encarnacion-Strand said there was no rush. Alonso turned back to him again to check whether they should meet in the dining room or the batting cage, a clear indication that they were going to talk hitting. Encarnacion-Strand replied that anywhere was fine with him, and again, no hurry.

This was a typical day for Alonso. Influence the outcome of a game, carrying the Orioles a little further in the Wild Card chase, and make himself available to anyone.

Alonso also has devoted portions of his afternoons to helping Gunnar Henderson, working with him during batting practice rounds to solve whatever is holding back the shortstop from returning to the type of hitter that the franchise got used to seeing early in his career.

“It’s great to have an additional sounding board to kind of be a force multiplier for the coaching staff, and obviously Pete’s been around a lot of really good hitters,” said Dustin Lind, in his first season as hitting coach. “He is a very good hitter himself, and so insights that he can share with younger players are always welcome and we’re very eager to get him involved in that process. He’s done a great job leading our young group, so a great very veteran presence for us to have in the cages and in the dugout.”

Alonso is new to the organization after signing a $155 million deal that’s the second-largest in franchise history, but players knew all about him, whether from watching him become a five-time All-Star with the Mets or stories told by people close to him. His reputation is spotless, unlike the dirt-stained uniform he wears during these post-game media scrums.

“He’s a top-notch individual, leader of men. But I think the best thing about him is you can go and talk to him about anything,” said starter Trevor Rogers, who used to face Alonso with the Marlins.

“All I can say is, 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. 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 for us, and hopefully that’ll continue for him.”

None of this surprises Rogers. Just like the way Alonso rebounded from his .198 average and .668 OPS in 31 games through April.

It was only a matter of time before he caught fire, and he’s on a real heater as the Orioles begin a three-city road trip tonight in St. Louis.

“It’s about what I expect, being on the other side for so many years,” Rogers said. “When he started out slow in the beginning of the year, I wasn’t worried about it. At the end of the day, he’s Pete Alonso, and I think everyone expected him to do what he’s doing at some point. So the fact that he’s doing it now for us, it’s huge, especially where we are with the time of the year. He’s going to be huge for us down the stretch.”

A 14-game hitting streak came to an end Sunday afternoon, during which Alonso collected 26 hits for the highest total in that span in his career. He slumped in a chair at his locker afterward, without any reporters approaching him – Colton Cowser attracted attention for having both hits, including a home run – but available again to anyone needing to speak with him.

“This group is awesome,” Alonso said before meeting up with Encarnacion-Strand. “And for me, I just want to be able to provide whatever I can. It’s all about, whether it be sharing information, whether it be swing stuff or against pitching or seeing something in game or I don’t know. There’s a trillion different things that you can talk about the game, ins and outs of baseball, and that’s the beautiful part about the game and providing whether it be knowledge or just perspective.

“It’s helpful for teammates, not just personally, but for the big picture. I think whatever can help on-field performance, I’m down to do. I’m down to help out whatever. I’m down to do whatever. Not afraid to get my hands dirty or offer perspective or even just listening or lending an ear. So whatever it takes to win, I’m down for.”

No wonder they love this guy, and why an organization puts its full trust in him, as exhibited by the financial commitment.

Alonso had numerous adjustments to make after signing his five-year contract. New team, new city. He became a first-time father. So much was thrown at him before he’d step into the box for his debut.

Settling in with the Orioles, he said, was “definitely a huge part of it.”

“But also, too, I think like right off the rip, this place has felt like home, and teammates have been first-class people within the organization, whether it be front office staff, clubbies, trainers. Like, everybody has just made it feel like home from day one,” he said.

“So I don’t want to not acknowledge that because the people here have really rolled out the red carpet for not just myself, but my family, and it’s highly appreciated.”

Alonso shared this before the Orioles arranged to have his wife Haley throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday while he squatted behind home plate, beaming with pride as she prepared to release the ball.

“I think honestly, like it was just kind of getting used to the timing and cadence of the day because there’s different game times here,” Alonso continued. “We have two different night game times. We have 4:10. We have 12:35, and then a 1:35. I mean, we have multiple different game times, so routines change, and also being a first-time dad, that dynamic, as well.

“It’s not just professional. It’s personal changes, too. So it’s like, how do I adjust to both things? And now that I’ve got the cadence and timing down, I mean, it’s been really awesome, and I’m just really happy that everyone has been really just amazing throughout this whole process, not just pre-season or like spring training, like middle of the year. It’s been fantastic.”

Manager Craig Albernaz noticed it from the start, how players sought out Alonso for advice, leadership, whatever suited the moment. It didn’t suddenly become a thing as the season progressed.  

“I think it’s been the same, honestly,” Albernaz said. “He’s been the same person the whole time and our guys have responded to him. Our clubhouse is filled with just a lot of great dudes that love to get into baseball that want to get better, and Pete, he just wants to pass on the knowledge he has and what he sees, and it just makes for a great baseball conversation.

“He’s not overbearing with it. He does a great job of being empathetic with who he’s talking to and understanding who he’s talking to, because sometimes you can’t deliver the same message to the same person. You have to be a little nimble in how you deliver your messaging and Pete does a great job of that. And he gains a lot of equity in that clubhouse, just because, yes, the performance, but also how he is day-to-day and how he never changes, never waivers from who he is. He’s goofy, he likes to have fun, but also serious, and he’s prepared, and he works his ass off.”