Pete Alonso returns to Citi Field: ‘It will always feel like a homecoming’

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TORONTO — Pete Alonso isn’t sure how he will received upon returning to Citi Field for the first time since departing in free agency. He’d like the New York crowd to welcome him Monday when he walks up the steps of the visiting dugout, a member of the Orioles rather than the Mets.

Chris Bassitt is fairly certain how the New York crowd will welcome Alonso back — with open arms.

“He was the leader of that organization for a long, long time, and he did things the right way and gave everything he had for that organization and city,” said Bassitt, who played alongside Alonso in 2022 for the Mets. “They’re New Yorkers, so I’m sure there’s going to be a couple boos, but I bet there’s going to be a lot more cheers, and deservingly so. He definitely deserves to get his thank you.”

If the scene at Camden Yards is an early indication, the cheers will be loud for Alonso. All season, Mets fans have trickled down to Baltimore to watch their former star play in a different uniform. They wear their No. 20 Alonso jerseys, and while their hearts may ache that Alonso is no longer a Met, that doesn’t change what he meant for New York across seven seasons.

The Orioles arrive Monday afternoon for the start of a three-game series. On Sunday afternoon, after Baltimore lost the finale in Toronto, Alonso finally allowed his mind to sneak forward.

That’s unusual for him; he doesn’t usually allow himself to be drawn into the future, the what-ifs or the unknowns. He made an exception to reflect on the emotions he may feel as he returns to his longtime home.

“New York will always be special, because it will always feel like a homecoming,” Alonso said. “There was a lot of life lived. We shared so many memories, doing so many things, and going through all that lived experience, it’s tough. Good and bad, you look at it and appreciate it, and for me it’ll be good.”

He and his wife, Haley, lived in New York for seven years with the Mets and an eighth while Alonso played for the Brooklyn Cyclones in the minor leagues. The Alonso family’s New York connection goes even deeper.

Alonso discussed relatives arriving at Ellis Island and how his “grandpa and grandma met in downtown and they got married and had all four of their kids born in New York.”

“It’s special, for sure,” he said.

Alonso also arrives on the verge of history. His 35th home run this year was the 299th of his career. Most of those came with the Mets, and during this three-game series, Alonso has the chance to reach the 300-homer milestone — joining only 170 other major leaguers in the history of this sport.

“Any time someone gets into that realm, it’s super special, because you’re able to hold it for such a long time,” Bassitt said. “Everyone sees a power hitter, but I don’t think people understand the intellect that goes on behind the scenes of what he’s trying to do every single day. His game preparation, his understanding of pitchers, how much he talks to us about what he sees and what we see — I just think he’s the total package.”

The latter point is unique, Bassitt said. Batters often talk among themselves, and Alonso goes out of his way to make himself available to his teammates. But Alonso spends almost as much time quizzing pitchers on his own team for what they see during a game.

“He’s way more old school than most now,” Bassitt said. “I think most young guys are misguided and not really understanding there’s two parts to the game, so, yeah, Pete’s just really, really good at talking to us and understanding the game.”

Brady North, one of Baltimore’s hitting coaches, said Alonso hasn’t talked about reaching the 300-homer milestone. His focus lies elsewhere: helping the Orioles, currently four games out of the wild card, make a run to the postseason.

In Sunday’s game, for instance, Alonso recorded his 100th RBI of the season. He views that mark in the same vein as everything else he does.

“I’m looking forward to just helping the team win. I mean, yeah, great, awesome,” Alonso said. “But today I got my 100th RBI. Whoop-de-do. Didn’t win the game. I play to win. All those personal things, obviously they matter, they’re important, but I just want to win. I just want to contribute what I can to win the game. That’s really it.”

That is why Bassitt is sure the reception for Alonso in New York on Monday night will be nothing if not warm — even if Alonso doesn’t want to assume that much.

“Every time I put on the uniform, I give my best effort, and hopefully people appreciated that while I was there,” Alonso said. “That’s really all I’ve done. I play to win, and I give it all I have every night. So hopefully people appreciated it. And, obviously, I liked playing there. I appreciated everybody there. It’ll be interesting, for sure.”