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The Orioles struggled in opposition to left-handed pitchers in 2025. Alonso brings a profession 125 wRC+ in opposition to southpaws. Alonso additionally supplies sturdiness, having performed in all 162 video games over the past two years.
In 2025, Alonso posted a career-best .832 OPS in opposition to lefties, which was really larger than his .795 mark in opposition to right-handed pitchers.
Final season, Alonso additionally recorded a hard-hit charge of 54.4%, which ranked within the 96th percentile, in accordance with Baseball Savant. He additionally ranked excessive in a number of different batting offensive metrics, resembling bat velocity (75.3 mph) and common exit velocity (97.3 mph).
The workforce recognized a necessity to enhance in opposition to left-handed pitching after 2024, the place its right-handed batters hit simply .243/.302/.383 in opposition to lefties.
Whereas his total offensive efficiency has seen some fluctuations, he has maintained a excessive energy output, making him a deadly bat in opposition to southpaws.
Following his transfer to the Orioles, his talent set with hitting successfully in opposition to lefties is predicted to be a key asset for the Orioles’ absence of right-handed bats within the lineup.
The addition of Taylor Ward
Alonso may also be part of offensive hitters Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday. Alonso is thought for his sturdiness and two-strike strategy; he supplies a risk on the plate that would alter the best way pitchers will face the Orioles lineup. The Orioles additionally added Taylor Ward, who is thought for his excessive slugging share in opposition to left-handed hitters.
The event and rebuilding of the workforce additionally factors to how the addition of Ward and Alonso enhances the offense. The duo of Ward and Alonso supplies the Orioles with extra right-handed energy that gives more practical offense. Alonso shall be an excellent addition to the Orioles as he can purpose to assist them navigate high-pressure conditions.
Optimized ballpark and AL East race
Camden Yards is now extremely favorable for right-handed energy hitters. This means Alonso can blast extra residence runs this season. Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal alerts that the Orioles need to have a successful workforce.
Nevertheless it will not be simple in opposition to a Blue Jays workforce that made it to the World Sequence in 2025 and an AL East workforce that’s actually at all times aggressive within the New York Yankees. Aaron Decide hit two residence runs in his spring coaching debut.
The Orioles even have Tyler O’Neill as one other energy bat within the lineup. Whereas he did not carry out as much as par final season when it comes to his residence run complete because of his 2025 harm stint, he’s anticipated to return to type. He hit 9 homers with a .684 OPS in 54 video games final season after hitting 31 residence runs with an .847 OPS in 113 video games in 2024.
Total, with Alonso, all the brand new additions and their younger gamers’ growth, it can make for an fascinating 2026 race within the AL East.
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