The Orioles’ deal for former Mets first baseman Pete Alonso was made official Thursday, and the slugger took to social media to thank the city and the fans for his time in the Big Apple.
In his message, which was accompanied by a slideshow of some of his best moments at the plate and on the field, Alonso took time to show appreciation for the Mets faithful, coaches and staff who helped shepherd his growth in the major leagues for seven years.
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“New York, thank you. These last few years have shaped me in ways I’ll carry for the rest of my life,” Alonso wrote on his Instagram account. “This city demands your best and I’m proud to look back knowing I gave everything I had into earning the privilege of wearing that jersey.
I’ve been blessed with incredible teammates, coaches, trainers, staff, and countless people who helped shape me into the player and man I am today. I’m forever grateful for every person who challenged me, supported me and believed in me along the way.
Thank you for the passion. Thank you for the love. Even the tough love that comes with playing for New York. When it came time for first pitch, thank you for being electric through it all. Thank you for getting rowdy every time I stepped up to the plate and made the building shake when the ball found a seat over the wall. Your energy fueled me more than you’ll ever know.
You believed in me, and you made me better.
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With love,
Polar Bear”
The Mets drafted Alonso in the second round of the 2016 draft and he burst onto the scene in 2019, his first season in the big leagues. That year, he hit 53 home runs, a new rookie record, en route to capturing the NL Rookie of the Year award.
For seven seasons, Alonso became the Mets’ most prolific power hitter, slashing .253/.341/.516 with 264 home runs, 183 doubles, and 712 RBI over 1,008 games. Those 264 home runs are a new franchise record, which he broke in 2025.