Baltimore Orioles slugger Pete Alonso made a notable lineup change Friday night, occupying the leadoff spot for the first time in his major league career. The veteran first baseman batted at the top of the Orioles' order in their 6-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Alonso, who has spent the majority of his career hitting in the middle of the lineup, primarily in the cleanup spot during his tenure with the New York Mets, acknowledged the rarity of the decision. "First time for everything. Why not?" he stated regarding his new role.
While not a traditional leadoff hitter, Alonso's .353 on-base percentage, which is above the MLB average, aligns with a key characteristic sought at the top of a lineup. His sprint speed, recorded at 25.3 mph this season, places him in the bottom 8 percent of major league players, and stolen bases are a minimal part of his game, though he has already matched a career high with five this season.
Alonso drew a comparison to Kyle Schwarber, another power-hitting player who has also occupied the leadoff spot. "I'm not saying me and him are the same guy, but I'm like [Kyle] Schwarber-adjacent, you know? … I can be the right-handed Schwarber, I guess. Why not?"
Prior to Friday's game, Alonso had hit third or fourth in every start for Baltimore this season. Shortly after the All-Star break, he shifted to the number two spot in the lineup, a position he was familiar with during his time with the Mets.
Alonso joined the Orioles in the offseason on a five-year, $155 million free agent contract. After a slow start in April, where he batted .198 with four home runs, he has since turned his season around. Heading into Friday's game, Alonso was hitting .259 with a .353 on-base percentage, .480 slugging percentage, 26 home runs, and 77 RBIs for the Orioles.