It’s only Spring Training. Three exhibition games. A 1-1-1 record.
But in the Baltimore Orioles’ clubhouse, something is happening sooner than expected: Pete Alonso isn’t just here to bat.
He’s here to lead.
Two home runs and three RBIs in the first two games are just the tip of the iceberg. What’s drawing more attention is Alonso standing at the edge of the dugout during every at-bat, cheering on every result, even taunting the referees, constantly shouting words of encouragement.
According to internal MLB media, he barely leaves the on-deck circle when the Orioles are on offense. A small detail. But in baseball – where the season lasts 162 games and mental strength can wear down faster than physical strength – small details sometimes determine the rhythm of the entire team.
Baltic is entering 2026 with no small amount of uncertainty. Injuries to Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday made an already fragile start even more difficult. In that context, Alonso not only brought power – he brought energy.
And that energy seemed to spread very quickly.
Westburg once remarked that Alonso was a “big voice,” someone who brought energy every day. Not the quiet kind of leader. But the kind who was ready to step up before anyone else thought of him.
In the game against the Yankees on February 20th, after a go-ahead two-run homer, Alonso left the court and yelled toward the bullpen: “Come on guys, let’s close out this win!” He later said it was just a joke.
But jokes sometimes reflect the truest nature.
Baltimore doesn’t lack young talent. They lack someone who’s been in the spotlight, who understands the pressure of the spotlight, and who has the confidence to make noise at the right time. A young, promising but volatile clubhouse might need just that kind of catalyst.
Even during live batting practice with prospect Nestor German, when Alonso hit a weak shot down the third baseline and still shouted, “That’s a knock!”, the atmosphere immediately broke into laughter. The competition was still there. But it was accompanied by a relaxed atmosphere that the Orioles rarely had before.
The question isn’t how many more home runs Alonso can hit.
It’s: Is Baltimore giving him more than just a first baseman role?
In recent seasons, the Orioles have often been talked about for their potential. For their “future.” But the future doesn’t naturally become the present without a voice loud enough to pull the entire locker room forward.
Alonso arrived as an established star.
But after only a few days, he acted as if he understood that this team needed more than just statistics — they needed belief.
Spring Training doesn’t say much about the rankings.
But it could reveal who’s quietly taking the lead.
And if Orioles really do change in 2026, perhaps it all started… with the shouts in a February dugout.
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