Pete Alonso faces awkward Orioles 'Can you see?' exchange
Pete Alonso was caught off guard when Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer asked “Can you see?” after a botched first-inning pickoff throw against the Detroit Tigers. The viral exchange came during Baltimore’s 14-0 loss, sparking debate over whether Kremer was checking Alonso’s sightline or showing frustration.
Key Takeaways
- Pete Alonso looked surprised on a first-inning pickoff attempt as Detroit’s Kevin McGonigle dove back safely.
- Dean Kremer pointed to his eyes and asked Alonso, “Can you see?” — Alonso answered, “Yeah, yeah.”
- Broadcast and fan takes split between a sun/visibility check and teammate frustration after the play.
- The moment came in a blowout: Kremer allowed eight runs in four innings in the Orioles’ 14-0 defeat.
What exactly happened between Pete Alonso and Dean Kremer?
In the bottom of the first inning at Comerica Park, with one out and a 2-1 count, Kremer threw to first trying to pick off Tigers rookie Kevin McGonigle. McGonigle reacted quickly and dove back to the bag before Alonso could field the throw and apply the tag.
Alonso appeared caught off guard by the pickoff attempt. Kremer then pointed two fingers toward his own eyes and asked whether Alonso could see. Video shared by Jomboy Media captured Alonso’s reply: “Yeah, yeah.”
The clip quickly circulated online and became one of the night’s most replayed Orioles moments, even as the game itself got away from Baltimore. For more celebrity-adjacent sports buzz, see our Celebrity Breaking News hub.
Why did Kremer ask Pete Alonso if he could see?
Interpretations diverge. Broadcasters suggested Alonso simply did not track the ball cleanly. One booth comment noted they lacked his exact view, but “he clearly did not see that ball on a hand.” Some fans thought sun or stadium lighting was the issue.
According to Sporting News, the likelier read is practical: Kremer was checking whether it was safe to keep throwing over, given something looked off on that attempt. Stadium backgrounds, colors, and lights can affect a first baseman’s read of the ball.
Others saw disappointment or a lack of respect in Kremer’s body language, especially after the failed early out. Sporting News argued that even if awkward, asking beats risking another throw that gets away.
How did the rest of the night go for Alonso and the Orioles?
The exchange was only a footnote in a rough night. Kremer allowed a season-high eight runs, plus two homers and three walks, lasting just four innings before the bullpen took over. The Tigers rolled to a 14-0 win after Baltimore had taken the series opener 8-5.
Kremer, on a one-year, $5.75 million deal for 2026, missed several months after a right quadriceps strain in April and returned in early July. After Tuesday’s outing, reports put his ERA in rough territory as he closed out the month.
Pete Alonso, in his first season with the Orioles after seven years with the Mets, entered the chatter hitting .250 with 22 home runs, 67 RBIs, and an .812 OPS. The viral “Can you see?” moment overshadowed another tough chapter in Baltimore’s stretch, with the club sitting fourth in the AL East at 52-56.