During the first inning of the Baltimore Orioles' 14-0 defeat to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night, an unusual moment occurred between Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer and first baseman Pete Alonso.
As Kremer attempted a pickoff throw to Alonso at first base for Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle, the runner managed to dive back safely. Alonso appeared surprised by the pickoff attempt, prompting Kremer to gesture towards his eyes and seemingly ask, "Can you see?" Alonso responded affirmatively. "Yeah, yeah," he said.
This exchange, captured on video, led to varied interpretations among viewers. Some suggested it was a simple miscommunication, possibly related to the sun. Others viewed Kremer's gesture negatively, interpreting it as frustration over the missed out. Broadcast commentators noted that the first baseman "did not see that ball on a hand," implying a potential disconnect in awareness on the field.
Fans on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, discussed the interaction, with some suggesting Kremer's body language indicated annoyance. Comments included observations about a perceived lack of respect and speculation about Kremer's motivations, whether due to a difficult outing on the mound or an attempt to appear cool.
It was a challenging game for Kremer, who allowed a season-high eight runs, including two home runs, and issued three walks. He was removed from the game after four innings, having surrendered a significant portion of the Tigers' offense. Kremer has been working back from a quad injury sustained in April, returning in early July, but his ERA for the month stood at 7.56 after Tuesday's performance.
Alonso, in his first year with the Orioles after seven seasons with the Mets, has a .250 batting average with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs, along with an .812 OPS.