Pete Alonso is back in New York—but this time, he's wearing a different shade of orange.
The former Mets slugger, now a Baltimore Oriole, returned to the Big Apple this weekend for a three-game series against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. While his highly-anticipated first visit to Citi Field as a visitor will have to wait, Alonso took a moment before Friday's opener to reflect on his journey.
"There's a lot of things to think about being here for so long," Alonso said. "My first taste of professional baseball was playing for the Cyclones and then working my way up from there—a lot of memories here for my family and I."
He added, "The last time we were here I remember going to Mount Sinai with my wife and coming out as a family of three, so for me it's special because you look down memory lane there's a lot of great baseball memories and personal memories too."
Though Alonso cherishes his time with the Mets, he's fully embracing his new chapter in Baltimore. "I'm extremely stoked to be where I'm at," he said.
The Polar Bear has gotten off to a slow start at the plate this season, but the Orioles have found their rhythm as a team, winning three straight series to close out April. That momentum stands in stark contrast to his former club's fortunes.
The Mets, meanwhile, closed the month with a 3-6 homestand, putting them alone at the bottom of Major League Baseball's standings. It's a far cry from the team that made a magical run to the postseason in 2024.
But Alonso isn't counting them out. "Every team goes through ups and downs," he told SNY's Michelle Margaux. "Like every person on the planet wrote off the 2024 Mets until we made it happen—there's tough times everywhere, but there's more of a microscope here in New York."
His message to Mets fans? "It sucks in the now, but they have talent and they'll be just fine."
It's a vote of confidence from a player who knows what it takes to weather a storm in Flushing. And for Mets fans looking to stay loyal through the rough patch, Alonso's words might be just the reminder they need—every great comeback starts with a little faith.