Pete Alonso sent a farewell message to New York Mets fans after the power-hitting first baseman signed a five-year, $155 million contract in free agency with the Baltimore Orioles.
“New York, thank you. 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.
“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. 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.”
The Mets selected Alonso with a second-round pick in the 2016 MLB draft. He got the call-up to the bigs in 2019 and played seven MLB seasons in town, making five All-Star Games and smacking 264 home runs while posting an .857 OPS.
This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.
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