Pete Alonso gave Mets fans a tearjerker on Thursday.
Alonso, who was a lifelong Met before signing with the Orioles on Wednesday, posted a heartfelt message to Instagram, thanking the fans for supporting him through his first seven MLB seasons.
“New York, thank you,” the post read. “These last few years have shaped me in ways I’ll carry for the rest of my life. This city demands your best and I’m proud to look back knowing I gave everything I had into earning the privilege of wearing that jersey.”
Alonso continued by thanking the Mets’ coaching staff and teammates throughout his career.
“I’ve been blessed with incredible teammates, coaches, trainers, staff, and countless people who helped shape me into the player and man I am today,” he continued. “I’m forever grateful for every person who challenged me, supported me and believed in me along the way.
“Thank you for the passion. Thank you for the love. Even the tough love that comes with playing for New York. When it came time for first pitch, thank you for being electric through it all. Thank you for getting rowdy every time I stepped up to the plate and made the building shake when the ball found a seat over the wall. Your energy fueled me more than you’ll ever know. You believed in me, and you made me better.”
Alonso signed a five-year deal worth $155 million with Baltimore, with it later being revealed that the Mets did not even make a formal offer to the first baseman.
The five-time All-Star is coming off a season where he posted a slash line of .272/.347/.524 with a NL-leading 41 doubles and 38 home runs, earning him the first Silver Slugger of his career.
Alonso’s deal came just a day after Edwin Diaz bolted to the Dodgers for a three-year, $69 million contract with the reigning World Series champs.
After losing franchise staples in Alonso and Diaz, Mets owner Steve Cohen had a sympathetic and optimistic message for the fans.
“I totally understand the fans’ reaction,” Cohen texted noti.group’s Jon Heyman on Wednesday. “There is lots of offseason left to put a playoff team on the field.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
