And they are willing to be the voices who deliver it, even if that message must come in the middle of an exhibition game against Team Netherlands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHey, we need to clean up,\u201d Alonso recalled telling his teammates after beckoning them to join him in the second inning of a game that doesn\u2019t count. \u201cIf we want to go far in the playoffs, it\u2019s all about doing the little things right, even now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left-hander Trevor Rogers was on the mound. The Netherlands were on their way to scoring four runs against Baltimore\u2019s ace, and they were aided by a few mishaps. Baltimore ended the game with four errors.<\/p>\n
Moments earlier, Rogers\u2019 wild pitch trickled behind home plate. He struck out Druw Jones even with that dirt ball, but as Jones ran to first, Basallo\u2019s throw was off line and late. One batter later, Ray-Patrick Didder doubled to right-center, and Alonso felt it was time to talk.<\/p>\n
He joined Rogers on the mound. He waved in Basallo. He pointed to Jeremiah Jackson and Bryan Ramos and Aron Estrada \u2014 everyone to the mound.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was sort of like, \u2018We aren\u2019t playing with the energy we need to play,\u2019\u201d Rogers said. \u201cComing from a veteran like that on March 3, really hammering down [that] we need to play with energy \u2026 he\u2019s going to help us a lot, especially telling us we need to pick up the slack.\u201d<\/p>\n
One batter later, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a three-run home run, but what mattered more at this stage of the spring is how Alonso showed again what sort of presence he can be.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was seeing the same thing we all were seeing,\u201d Albernaz said, \u201cso for him to be that leader and bring everybody in, calm everybody down, that was good to see.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MCTFCWMBWJDTDKNWZIV43HPZT4.jpg\")
Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso (25) jogs back to the dugout with teammates in the middle of the first inning of a spring training game against the Detroit Tigers on Feb. 22. (Ulysses Mu\u00f1oz\/The Banner)<\/p>\n
And the impromptu meeting showed it\u2019s not all on Albernaz, even if Albernaz was the primary voice during pregame defensive drills.<\/p>\n
With runners on the bases and Albernaz calling out situations, a faux double traveled down the left-field line. The tying run was running home, all the way from first. The throw home skipped past Basallo, who didn\u2019t use his body to block it, and Albernaz didn\u2019t accept the fact it was only practice.<\/p>\n
He told Basallo, in more colorful wording than this, to block the ball next time because the winning run was on second. Two plays later, when Basallo returned with a nice catch and tag of a runner, Albernaz heaped on the praise to recognize the improvement.<\/p>\n
Games are won and lost by those details. Alonso and Albernaz \u2014 among others \u2014 are taking active roles in ensuring those behind-the-scenes moments don\u2019t turn into something graver. And while they aren\u2019t shy to criticize, they are equally as supportive when the moment dictates it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just getting in good habits,\u201d Alonso said. \u201cIf you play clean baseball throughout the year, good things happen, and especially if you have that habit of playing clean baseball, then it becomes second nature. Now in camp, we just need to lock in on it and just play clean baseball. It\u2019s just a good habit. It\u2019s just winning culture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alonso said he learned many of those lessons as a young player from Todd Frazier and Robinson Can\u00f3 with the New York Mets.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot just the playing stuff, but how can you lock in on a day in, day out basis for 162 games,\u201d Alonso said.<\/p>\n
He is now one of those older players. The 31-year-old is a five-time All-Star and signed a five-year, $155 million contract<\/a> with the Orioles this winter. The early indications during spring training have been that Alonso is confident in voicing his opinion.<\/p>\n Alonso is boisterous during live batting practice sessions<\/a>, both by cheering for his teammates and bantering with the pitchers. He has taken to occasionally writing an inspirational quote<\/a> on the whiteboard near the clubhouse. <\/p>\n