Pete Alonso poised to make RBI history, making Orioles signing decision look even better

It cannot be understated just how good Pete Alonso has been for the Baltimore Orioles in 2026. Not only has he raked the entire season, but he became a fan favorite essentially overnight while also stepping up as a leader in the clubhouse. To cap off his magical season, he now has a chance to make history thanks to his ability to drive in runs. 

Let’s just get this out of the way right now. It would be pretty dang cool if Yordan Alvarez won the Triple Crown this season. As of September 22, his .314 batting average leads the American League. He is also tied with Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero for the most home runs with 41. However, he currently trails Alonso by six RBI on the season. And if the Polar Bear has any say in the matter, he won’t be giving that lead up this week. 

While Alonso could be the last person standing in the way of Alvarez being forever remembered in the history books as a Triple Crown winner, he is looking to make history himself. As noted by MLB.com’s David Adler, no player has ever led the American League and National League in RBI in separate seasons in MLB history.  

In just a few more days, Alonso could be the first player to achieve that feat. His 131 RBI with the New York Mets back in 2022 led all of the National League. He is now so close to leading the American League in RBI this season that he can taste it. But whether or not he makes history, one thing is already certain. The Orioles are lucky to have Alonso on their team.  

Pete Alonso has become everything the Orioles wanted him to be when they signed him

Since September 16, Alonso has driven in seven runs for the Orioles. This includes two separate games with three RBI. It is almost as if he physically felt Alvarez trying his hardest to catch up to him. Like most professional athletes at the top of their game, he apparently took that pursuit personally.     

With his 108 RBI in 2026, Alonso has produced about as well as the Orioles could have hoped for when they signed him to a five-year, $155 million contract last December. Without an awful lot of protection in the lineup, Alonso has carried the Orioles team on his back at times this season. While it likely won’t be enough to get the team into the postseason, it has set them in the right direction moving forward.  

Although Alonso won’t come too close to winning AL MVP this season, he should collect a modest amount of votes. Regardless, he has certainly been the Orioles most valuable player by a wide margin. Through 157 games, he’s accumulated 4.5 fWAR, most on the entire team. His wRC+ of 144 also leads the team by nearly 30 points. 

No matter how you slice it, the signing of Alonso is the team’s best offseason move in years. While they probably won’t be playing baseball in October this season, he should provide a formidable bat in the lineup for the remainder of his contract. This should be more than enough to keep them competitive for years. Who knows, if he keeps it up, maybe he’ll even be considered one of the franchise’s greatest players by the end of his contract.

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