Back in Tampa area, Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso represents his old high school during Rays series

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Across the bay from where he grew up, Pete Alonso represented his hometown throughout this series. He wore his old Plant High School baseball shirt, the one with his retired No. 20 on the back, before each Orioles game.

“High school is such a formative time,” Alonso said before the series opener.

Before he was a major leaguer, before he signed a five-year contract to become a centerpiece of the Orioles, Alonso learned life and baseball at Plant under coach Dennis Braun.

“Tampa baseball, it’s super loaded with talent,” he said. “That’s why I think his program, not just the program itself but the individuals who have left and have found success, and success is different.”

For some, lessons learned in baseball translate to desk jobs. For Alonso, a late bloomer in high school, he still has Braun’s words echo in his head, even as a 31-year-old. They are reminders that helped Alonso blossom into a star at the University of Florida, then with the New York Mets and now with the Orioles.

The start to Alonso’s time in Baltimore hasn’t been as robust as he’d like. But, in the Orioles’ series-ending loss against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, Alonso’s two-RBI game showed the impact he can bring. His single plated the first run, and then in classic Alonso fashion, he showed his opposite-field power with a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning.

“It’s awesome for him,” manager Craig Albernaz said of Alonso’s homecoming. “It’s very rare you get to be and play a major league game in the stadium you grew up in as a kid, watching other guys play. So it’s awesome. I want our guys to embrace it, ’cause it’s such a cool moment for them.”

One of the main benefits of playing near his hometown, Alonso said, is “just to be able to sleep in my own bed. For me, that’s the most exciting thing.” It doesn’t occur frequently during the season.

At the game Wednesday were Alonso’s parents and wife. He wore his Plant shirt to leave no doubt to anyone in the crowd where his allegiance lies.

“Just gotta represent,” Alonso said. “It’s funny. Here in Tampa, there’s a bunch of different baseball rivalries around, so gotta support my guys at Plant.”

The positive results from Alonso are a good sign for a player who hasn’t matched his expectations. They didn’t help the Orioles rise to a win, however — and Wednesday’s loss dropped Baltimore eight games below .500.

Alonso is using various training methods to find his rhythm, and that includes a sledgehammer meant to sync his movements.

This month, Alonso is showing signs of a breakout. He’s hitting 20-for-73 (.274) with five doubles and five homers in May. If he can continue a surge, perhaps Baltimore can find more success as a team.

At the end of a homecoming that didn’t feature any wins against the Rays, Alonso searched for answers, like the rest of his teammates.

“It’s just in-game execution. That’s the thing,” he said. “Guys have to be willing to do that and just anticipating that. As we make that a focal point, guys are going to execute in the moment, not being afraid of failure. I think, obviously, we put ourselves in the position we’re in. But we can’t be afraid of failing, not just the next game but moving forward. We’ve got to trust our instincts, trust our preparedness and go out and play free and play with our heads on fire.”