Pete Alonso connected for the 301st home run of his career on Wednesday night, taking his former team deep at Citi Field and drawing yet another ovation from New York Mets fans who have not forgotten his departure for the Baltimore Orioles last December.
The milestone blast came against the franchise with which Alonso spent the first six seasons of his major league career, and the reception in Queens made clear that the relationship between player and fan base remains complicated nearly nine months after he signed with Baltimore.
Alonso's exit followed a prolonged free-agent negotiation that ended when he agreed to terms with the Orioles in December, a move that stung a Mets faithful that had adopted the first baseman as one of its own. His return to Citi Field this week offered the home crowd its latest opportunity to weigh appreciation for his contributions against frustration over his decision to leave.
The 301st homer adds to a résumé that already places Alonso among the most prolific power hitters in Mets history. For local fans, the number serves as a reminder of what the organization lost when he departed — and of the enduring pull he still holds in the ballpark where he built his reputation.
Wednesday's ovation was not the first Alonso has received since leaving New York, and it likely will not be the last. Each return visit now carries a dual narrative: the cheers for a player who once anchored the middle of the Mets' lineup, and the lingering question of what might have been had he stayed.
