Pete Alonso's 2026 Silver Slugger nomination is proof of who Orioles nucleus truly is

Not a lot went right in 2026 for the Baltimore Orioles. After looking like they were about to emerge as the class of the gauntlet known as the AL East, the Orioles took a step back in 2025. In hopes of getting back to the postseason in 2026, Mike Elias went out and signed Pete Alonso to a five-year, $155 million deal. It was an admission that relying on the young guns alone wasn't enough.

There were some who believed that signing an aging, power-hitting first baseman to a nine-figure deal was so 2010s. There was mockery from those who thought this was going to be Chris Davis 2.0 and would go down as one of the worst contracts in MLB history. Year one is now complete, and not only was Alonso not a bust, but he is now a 2026 Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger nominee.

Alonso was worth every penny in his first year by the Chesapeake Bay. Not only was he the offensive force that Baltimore thought it would get, but he was also a key leader on a team full of young players.

The nomination is well-deserved, but it also signals something greater for Baltimore. Alonso was always going to be a big part of the club's future, but now it's clear that his role will be even greater than what the Orioles envisioned when they signed him.

Pete Alonso's Silver Slugger nomination further cements the fact that he is the Orioles' most important player

Baltimore has had plenty of players that it hoped would become superstars. Adley Rutschman was supposed to revolutionize the catcher position as one of the rare backstops who could perform like a superstar both at the plate and behind it. He's, of course, now in Boston.

Jackson Holliday was supposed to be a generational talent. Here we are after three years, still unsure if he's even an MLB-caliber talent. Gunnar Henderson had MVP potential, and while he's certainly the most accomplished of the group, a .712 OPS in his fourth full big league season wasn't anywhere near what we expected.

Alonso does three things. He cranks dingers. He drives in runs. And he plays (almost) every game. In 2026, he led the American League in homers with 43, RBIs with 113, and played 161 games while logging 700 plate appearances. Check, check, and check.

Mike Elias and company are realizing that Alonso isn't a complement to the young core, but rather the nucleus that these young players revolve around. It's no surprise that the Orioles are reportedly willing to trade anyone except Alonso. He's the straw that stirs the drink. And he needs better ingredients around him.

Alonso's competition for the Silver Slugger trophy at first base is Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras. While it's easy to look at the former Met's numbers and think that he is a shoo-in, Contreras is no slouch himself.

• Pete Alonso: .267/.363/.522 43 homers 148 wRC+
• Willson Contreras: .275/.386/.516 27 homers 151 wRC+

The award is about offensive excellence, and both players are worthy choices. By wRC+, Contreras edges Alonso by a hair. However, Alonso's league-leading performance in homers and RBIs will hold some weight to counterbalance Contreras's edge in batting average and on-base percentage. It should also be noted that Alonso played 31 more games than Contreras.

Regardless of whether or not Alonso comes home with the hardware, the truth of the matter is the same. The Orioles need to do a better job surrounding him with talent in 2027. He's raised the floor tremendously, but he's only one player, and he can only do so much.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow