The Orioles struggled against left-handed pitchers in 2025. Alonso brings a career 125 wRC+ against southpaws. Alonso also provides durability, having played in all 162 games over the last two years.
In 2025, Alonso posted a career-best .832 OPS against lefties, which was actually higher than his .795 mark against right-handed pitchers.
Last season, Alonso also recorded a hard-hit rate of 54.4%, which ranked in the 96th percentile, according to Baseball Savant. He also ranked high in several other batting offensive metrics, such as bat speed (75.3 mph) and average exit velocity (97.3 mph).
The team identified a need to improve against left-handed pitching after 2024, where its right-handed batters hit just .243/.302/.383 against lefties.
While his overall offensive performance has seen some fluctuations, he has maintained a high power output, making him a lethal bat against southpaws.
Following his move to the Orioles, his skill set with hitting effectively against lefties is expected to be a key asset for the Orioles’ absence of right-handed bats in the lineup.
The addition of Taylor Ward
Alonso will also join offensive hitters Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Jackson Holliday. Alonso is known for his durability and two-strike approach; he provides a threat at the plate that could alter the way pitchers will face the Orioles lineup. The Orioles also added Taylor Ward, who is known for his high slugging percentage against left-handed hitters.
The development and rebuilding of the team also points to how the addition of Ward and Alonso enhances the offense. The duo of Ward and Alonso provides the Orioles with more right-handed power that offers more effective offense. Alonso will be a great addition to the Orioles as he can aim to help them navigate high-pressure situations.
Optimized ballpark and AL East race
Camden Yards is now highly favorable for right-handed power hitters. This suggests Alonso can blast more home runs this season. Alonso’s five-year, $155 million deal signals that the Orioles want to have a winning team.
But it won’t be easy against a Blue Jays team that made it to the World Series in 2025 and an AL East team that is certainly always competitive in the New York Yankees. Aaron Judge hit two home runs in his spring training debut.
The Orioles also have Tyler O’Neill as another power bat in the lineup. While he didn’t perform up to par last season in terms of his home run total due to his 2025 injury stint, he is expected to return to form. He hit nine homers with a .684 OPS in 54 games last season after hitting 31 home runs with an .847 OPS in 113 games in 2024.
Overall, with Alonso, all the new additions and their young players’ development, it will make for an interesting 2026 race in the AL East.