Why Mets sluggers are using a sledgehammer in the on-deck circle

USA Today

3 days ago

Why Mets sluggers are using a sledgehammer in the on-deck circle
You may have noticed that two players on the New York Mets recently started doing something a bit unusual to prepare for their at-bats.
The Mets, who currently have one of the best records in the National League, have two particularly hot bats on their roster with Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo. During their recent series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the two players were seen holding something that looked a bit like a sledgehammer while in the on-deck circle.
It is pretty funny to see two baseball players look like construction workers, but there is a perfectly good reason for the decision.
According to SNY's Steve Gelbs, this is something that Alonso brought to the team.
Here is more from Gelbs:
"A very unconventional approach from Brandon Nimmo in the on-deck circle, swinging a sledgehammer. We saw it for the first time yesterday. I asked Nimmo about it. He said it's actually something that Pete Alonso brought to the team. He's had it since spring training and uses it in the batting cages before the games to get set for his swings."
According to Gelbs, before the game against the Dodgers, Nimmo asked Mets hitting coach Eric Chavez if there was any rule about bringing it out to on-deck circle.
Chavez said there is not so now, two nights in a row, Alonso and Nimmo are using an eight-pound sledgehammer (instead of a baseball donut) to practice their swings.