Pete Alonso Returns to Citi Field With Orioles for First Mets Reunion

For seven seasons, Pete Alonso was one of the defining faces of Citi Field. On Monday, September 14, he returns to Queens for the first time as a visiting player when the Baltimore Orioles open a three-game series against the New York Mets. The reunion brings the Mets’ former franchise home run leader back to the ballpark where he built his reputation as the “Polar Bear” — now wearing Baltimore orange and black.

Photo: Alexis Redin / U.S. Air Force

The timing gives the homecoming more than sentimental value. Alonso enters the series with 298 career home runs, just two short of 300, after hitting 34 homers with 97 RBIs in his first season with Baltimore. That puts a personal milestone, his Mets history and a first matchup against his former club into the same three-game series. Monday’s opener is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET at Citi Field.

Pete Alonso’s Citi Field return: key details

• Matchup: Baltimore Orioles at New York Mets
• Date: Monday, September 14, 2026
• Venue: Citi Field, New York
• First pitch: 7:10 p.m. ET
• Alonso in 2026: .266 average, 34 home runs, 97 RBIs and an .854 OPS
• Career home runs: 298, two short of 300

Pete Alonso returns to the ballpark where he became a Mets star

Alonso spent his first seven Major League seasons with the Mets from 2019 through 2025. He immediately became one of the faces of the franchise, setting an MLB rookie record with 53 home runs in 2019 and building a reputation as one of baseball’s most consistent power hitters.

By the time he left New York, Alonso had become the Mets’ all-time home run leader. He hit 264 home runs in 1,008 games for the organization before signing with Baltimore ahead of the 2026 season.

That history makes this series different from a normal September matchup. Alonso is returning to the stadium where he established himself as the “Polar Bear,” played postseason baseball and became a central figure for a generation of Mets fans.

Alonso enters the Mets series with 34 home runs in 2026

Alonso has continued to produce in his first season with the Orioles. According to MLB’s official statistics entering September 14, he is batting .266 with 34 home runs, 97 RBIs and an .854 OPS across 149 games.

His power has also moved him close to another career milestone. Alonso enters the series with 298 career home runs, leaving him two short of 300. A milestone home run at Citi Field would add another layer to an already notable homecoming.

The first baseman has been particularly productive during the second half of the season. His continued presence in the middle of Baltimore’s lineup gives the Orioles a proven run producer as they enter the final weeks of the regular season.

Orioles and Mets begin three-game series on September 14

Baltimore enters Monday’s game at 72-76, while New York is 68-79. The Orioles and Mets are scheduled to play at Citi Field from September 14 through September 16.

The first two games are scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. MLB’s latest probable-pitcher listing has right-hander Jonah Tong lined up for the Mets in Monday’s opener, while Baltimore’s starter was still listed as to be determined.

The series also comes immediately before and during Roberto Clemente Day on September 15, when all 30 MLB clubs are scheduled to be in action.

Why Alonso’s Citi Field return matters

Player reunions are common in Major League Baseball, but Alonso’s return carries more weight because of the scale of his Mets career. He was not a short-term star or a late-career addition in New York. The Mets drafted him in the second round in 2016, developed him through their farm system and watched him become one of the defining power hitters in franchise history.

Now the relationship changes. Alonso will step into the visiting clubhouse, take batting practice as an Oriole and face the club he represented for more than 1,000 regular-season games.

For Baltimore, the focus remains on the series itself. For Alonso, however, September 14 marks a first: his first Major League game at Citi Field without a Mets uniform.