Pete Alonso has a new jersey number—and a touching backstory behind the change.
Numbers carry weight in baseball, not only in the stats that populate the box scores but also in the round badges players wear. Jerseys become part of a player’s identity, tied to memorable moments and legendary names that fans carry with them for years.
For Pete Alonso, the number 20 had defined his Mets tenure across seven seasons. But after agreeing to a five-year, $155 million deal with the Orioles, No. 20 could no longer be his: Baltimore retired that number in honor of Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.
So Alonso picked a different digit, choosing one that carries a deeply personal meaning.
“2025 is a year that holds a special place for me and my family,” Alonso explained in a video Orioles posted on social media. “We welcomed our son in 2025, so I chose 25 because of him.”
Haley and Alonso welcomed their son, Teddy, on September 21.
The Orioles didn’t enjoy their best season in 2025, finishing last in the American League East after a string of playoff appearances. Yet the arrival of a premier slugger wearing Baltimore’s uniform could be a turning point the franchise embraces as it looks toward the future.
Alonso had one of the standout seasons of his career in 2025, posting an OPS of .871, leading the NL with 41 doubles, and tallying 38 home runs and 126 RBIs. He earned his fifth All-Star appearance, further cementing his status as one of the league’s premier hitters.
While his spell in New York will be remembered for the record-setting 264 home runs he hit wearing No. 20 for the Mets, his latest chapter begins with No. 25—the number that honors his growing family and a fresh start in Baltimore.
