ST. PETERSBURG -- Pete Alonso had never batted leadoff in his eight-year, 1,129-game MLB career. Nor in the Minor Leagues. Nor while at the University of Florida. Nor while at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa. Nor any time in his youth before that.
That changed Friday night.
For the first time in his 31-year, 250-day life, Alonso served as a leadoff hitter, batting from the No. 1 spot in the Orioles’ lineup during their series-opening 6-5 win over the Rays at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay sent left-hander Steven Matz to the mound as an expected opener, so Baltimore wanted a potent right-handed bat to start the game.
Alonso was more than ready for the opportunity a few hours before first pitch.
“First time for everything,” Alonso said. “Why not?”
Hey, if left-handed slugger Kyle Schwarber has had so much success leading off for the Phillies in recent years, why can’t Alonso do the same?
“I’m not saying me and him are the same guy, but I’m like Schwarber-adjacent,” Alonso said. “It’s not unusual now to see a power guy at the top of the lineup. So I mean, I guess I can be the right-handed Schwarber. ... This could be fun. But yeah, it’s exciting. Get to do it for the first time today. Hopefully, it’s 1-0.”
Alonso always has the potential to hit a ball over the fence. That didn’t happen to start the game, though, as Matz struck out Alonso swinging. Still, the Polar Bear finished the night 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.
If Alonso gets the assignment again, he won’t be changing his approach at the plate. No bunting or trying to be a speed guy, even if it is his name atop the lineup card.
“Absolutely not. Absolutely not,” Alonso said. “I know it’s my first time hitting leadoff, but I don’t think I’m going to bunt in a Major League game, or attempt to bunt in a Major League game.”
Manager Craig Albernaz has shown a willingness to get creative with his lineups against left-handed starting pitchers. When the Orioles face righties, Gunnar Henderson is typically in the leadoff spot, or sometimes, it can be fellow left-handed hitter Dylan Beavers.
But against lefties, Albernaz has used right-handed hitters Coby Mayo (Aug. 1 vs. Phillies), Christian Franklin (Aug. 5 vs. Angels) and now Alonso (Friday vs. Rays) in the No. 1 spot.
“Pete, he hasn’t done it yet, so we might as well check that box off in his career,” Albernaz said. “But all jokes aside, they’re going opener in Matz with a bulk guy behind him, so obviously, there is some strategy to the lineup. With Pete, one, he has the highest OPS on the team [.832], so he’s been getting on base. So, we like that quality in the leadoff spot.
“But also, to maximize his at-bats as well. I told him not to change anything. I don’t want to see him bunting for a hit. He made a joke about he’s going to bring the lineup card out and then just stand in the batter’s box while [Matz] gets ready to go. So, he’s up for it.”