Showalter thinks Alonso is the perfect fit for Orioles: ‘If you’re going to give a guy a five-year contract, that’s the guy’

Buck Showalter had the second-longest tenure of any manager in Orioles history and grew fond of Baltimore. His son, Nathan, a onetime scout for the Orioles, still lives in the area, and Buck and his wife, Angela, own a farm in Anne Arundel County and visit often.

When Pete Alonso was considering signing with the Orioles, he called Showalter for advice about Baltimore.

“He had nothing but beautiful things to say,” Alonso said. “Not just about fan base, just this whole area, and he was very, very, just, again — Buck is always funny.

“He always has his -isms, and he just said that this is a no-doubt, just hands-down baseball environment. Everything is focused on what’s between the lines. He’s like, ‘Camden is a phenomenal place. It’s just one of those iconic parks you’re going to enjoy playing in every single day.’”

Showalter managed Alonso in New York with the Mets in 2022 and 2023. He has a fondness for star players—especially ones who play every day.

He enjoyed managing Adam Jones and Nick Markakis, who didn’t need a day off, and that’s one of the things that impressed him about Alonso, who missed just 10 games in the two years Showalter had him with the Mets.

In 2024 and 2025, Alonso played every single game.

“If you’re going to give a guy a five-year contract, that’s the guy,” Showalter said this weekend. “If I had to pick a place that really fit Pete, it would be Baltimore because Pete will get Baltimore and Baltimore will get Pete … If I’m a Baltimore fan, I wouldn’t have any enthusiasm tempered. He’s a presence, man. The biggest thing he’s going to bring is just presence.”

Showalter was in the area to celebrate his son’s birthday and attend the Army-Navy game.

“He’s going to post up. He’s going to set an example,” Showalter said. “He’s going to be a very consistent personality. Pete doesn’t ever have a bad day. You never have it come across your desk: ‘Hey, what’s wrong with Pete today? He’s in a [rotten] mood.’ That never happens. Pete’s the same guy every day, and he’s an open book.”

Showalter said Alonso would often come to his office hours before the game.

“He’d come in, plop down, close the door and go, ‘What’s up?’ And we’d talk about just anything on his mind. He loved that stuff.”

Showalter doesn’t think Alonso will have any trouble with the Orioles. He’ll love spring training because it will be in Sarasota, near to his Tampa home instead of across the state in Port St. Lucie, where the Mets trained.

His workout routine impressed Showalter, too.

“He’s country strong. He doesn’t have a lot of stuff that’s being pushed and pulled by weights all year long,” Showalter said. “I just like the consistency of his personality.”

Alonso also had consistent numbers in New York, averaging 42 home runs and 114 RBIs in a 162-game season. It won’t matter to Alonso if the Orioles move the left-field fences yet again.

“When he collides with the ball, it goes,” Showalter said. “I don’t care what they do. They can put the fences anywhere they want to, he’s going to hit it over … He’s going to have statistics at the end of the year. He’s a better pure hitter. He’s not just a collision hitter.”

Alonso had a bang-up introductory news conference on Friday where he spoke at length and displayed an outgoing personality.

“I remember we had a talent show in the spring and he did about seven minutes of stand-up comedy. He was great,” Showalter said. “He’s a goofy guy sometimes, too. He’s going to get on the plane and make the boys play cards together.”

Showalter said that Alonso cares about the entire game.

“Pete cares about defense. He’s going to try to win a Gold Glove every year,” he said. “He’s going to be out there early, working. The only time he gets in trouble is when he tries to do too much. That’s true with everybody. He’s going to catch everything thrown his way. He’s going to catch the ground balls. He’s going to scoop the balls that are in the dirt.” Since 2023, Alonso has 62 scoops, which leads the major leagues.

Alonso told Showalter he was impressed with the team’s new ownership and the renovations to Oriole Park.

“This guy wants to win a world championship all five years,” Showalter said.

The Mets went to the postseason twice in Alonso’s time — in 2022, when they lost in the wild-card round, and in 2024, when they lost to the Dodgers in the League Championship Series.

Showalter said that Alonso will like the easier commute to Camden Yards than Citi Field, and while he fit in well in New York, it will be better here.

“He’s more of the Baltimore type,” he said.

Alonso will remember Showalter’s advice.

“‘Listen, Pete, you’re going to absolutely crush this place,’” he told him. “So, and then he was like, ‘Pete, God bless. God bless.’ But Buck is one of my all-time favorites, and he had nothing but beautiful things to say,” Alonso said.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.