Saturday, May 09

Welcome to another edition of the Orioles Beat newsletter. The O’s play two more vs. the A’s this weekend before the American League East rival Yankees come to town for a three-game series beginning Monday.

BALTIMORE -- Sunday won’t be the first Mother’s Day that Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso celebrates his wife, Haley -- even if it will be her first time as a mom on the holiday.

Last year, Haley was pregnant with the couple’s first child in mid-May. A little more than four months later, their son, Teddy, was born on Sept. 21, 2025.

“We celebrated last year because you can’t have motherhood without the burden of the nine months of pregnancy, and since we knew,” Pete said. “I’m just really fortunate to be able to have a healthy, happy baby. Haley’s just done a tremendous job and just been rock solid through all this. She’s the anchor of the family, and I’m just beyond appreciative.”

A newborn baby would change the lives of any first-time parents. But the Alonsos have been quite busy since Teddy was born near the end of the 2025 season.

Since becoming a family of three, the 31-year-old slugger went through the free-agency process, during which he was not only trying to decide which MLB team to play for, but also where he, Haley and Teddy would be living during baseball season.

On Dec. 11, Alonso signed a five-year, $155 million deal with the O’s, meaning the family would be coming to Baltimore.

As Alonso went through the relocation -- which then brought his first Spring Training with a new club in Sarasota, Fla., not far from his permanent home in Tampa -- he was grateful to have Haley as his partner and co-parent helping take care of Teddy.

“She’s crushed, 10 out of 10. I’m beyond blessed. The amount of love that she pours into both of us every single day, it truly just comes so natural. Just really beyond blessed,” Alonso said. “Just beyond appreciative just to have such an unbelievable woman by my side every day.”

The Polar Bear has also enjoyed becoming a dad to the new cub in his household.

“I know it’s only been seven months, but I can’t even imagine what life was like pre-kid. Now, every single morning, I can’t wait. I’m waking up before the alarm clock,” Alonso said. “Waking up every day is just so exciting. It’s a new adventure, seeing him grow and be able to start to do new things. It’s just such a treat every single day. Every single leap and bound he takes, it’s just really surreal.”

Some may wonder why the Alonsos named their son Teddy. There’s a story behind it.

Pete is a big fan of Theodore Roosevelt, who was born in New York City -- just like the Alonsos' son. Not only that, but Roosevelt had ties to the Tampa area as well, as that’s where the president’s “Rough Riders” -- the first United States Volunteer Cavalry -- camped before heading to Cuba during the Spanish-American War.

“My favorite quote is [Roosevelt’s] ‘The Man in the Arena.’ Hopefully, when [Teddy] reads that one day, he’ll have an understanding. I mean, it’s just an unbelievable quote, I think, that it carries weight in a lot of aspects of life. So I think it’s really special,” Alonso said. “He was an outdoorsman. I wouldn’t consider myself one because I’m a ballplayer, but maybe in another life I’d be an outdoorsman. He has an appreciation of nature. He has ties to Florida. ... 

“It was like, ‘All right, well, Teddy’s born in New York, N.Y., and so is Mr. Roosevelt.’ ... It just kind of worked.”

Mother’s Day is always a busy day for MLB players, as the afternoon is typically occupied by a game. So Alonso will have to get done at work (the Orioles’ 1:35 p.m. game vs. the A’s at Camden Yards) before spending time with Haley and Teddy on Sunday.

Afterward, Alonso is prepared to celebrate the mother of his son alongside both of them.

“Hopefully, we can get some reservations somewhere that’ll be a little kid-friendly. ... There’s so many good restaurants in Baltimore,” Alonso said. “We can have a beautiful dinner as a family and get him home on time for bed.”

The lines outside of the Camden Yards gates formed late Friday afternoon, as fans were eager to receive their Orioles-themed Tupac bobblehead ahead of the 7:05 p.m. contest vs. the A’s. The late rapper Tupac Shakur had ties to Baltimore; his family moved to the city when he was 13, and then he later attended the Baltimore School for the Arts.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz got his hands on three of the bobbleheads -- one for his office and two more for his sons, CJ and Norman. (He noted his daughter, Gigi, is still too young to be listening to Tupac’s music.)

Asked for his favorite Tupac song, Albernaz named two -- “Pain” and “All Eyez on Me.”

“Man, there’s so many good ones. It’s not really a known one. I really enjoy ‘Pain,’” Albernaz said. “It was tough to find, this is back on -- I'm dating myself -- but Napster or LimeWire, trying to find the right one."

On Friday, the Orioles partnered with Wegmans Food Markets to provide lunch and gifts for the teachers and staff at Harlem Park Elementary Middle School in Baltimore as part of Teacher Appreciation Week.

Harlem Park has been supported by the O’s as part of the Adopt-A-School campaign since April 2024.

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