While the Mets dropped a hard-fought 6-5 loss in the series finale against the Dodgers, stranding 13 runners and surrendering a 4-0 lead, the real story from their trip to Los Angeles may be the sudden jolt of offense. The Mets took two out of three at Dodger Stadium, including a convincing 6-1 victory in Game 2, and several key bats showed signs of heating up. Surprisingly, an eight-pound sledgehammer might be part of the reason.
Outfielder Brandon Nimmo drew attention when he was seen using the sledgehammer in the on-deck circle before ABs during the first two games of the series, a routine that quickly went viral. According to SNY, the hammer has been part of the team’s pregame batting cage drills since spring training, initially introduced by slugger Pete Alonso. Nimmo asked hitting coach Eric Chavez if there was any rule preventing him from using it during games; when told there wasn’t, the Mets incorporated it into their dugout routine and possibly contributed to their offensive resurgence.
Pete Alonso led the charge once again, blasting his 15th home run of the season in the second inning of the series finale. He’s now batting .286 with a .922 OPS and leads the National League with 53 RBIs. Alonso also tied former team captain David Wright for the most multi-home run games in franchise history (22) and is closing in on Darryl Strawberry’s all-time Mets home run record of 252 with 241.
Nimmo, 32, has also shown signs of coming back to form. He’s logged three multi-hit games since late May and tied the franchise record for RBIs in a single game with nine on April 28, including two homers, one of them a grand slam. His season slash line sits at .231/.293/.413 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs. He and Starling Marte launched back-to-back homers in the series finale, giving the Mets a jolt early before the lead slipped away.
Francisco Lindor, playing through a fractured pinky toe, has stayed active in the lineup and continues to contribute. His most recent leadoff homer came earlier in the Dodgers series, energizing the lineup from the jump. Perhaps most impressively, the Mets are 27-0 this season when Lindor hits a home run, a streak that puts him in rare company. While legends like Carl Furillo and Lou Gehrig accomplished similar feats across multiple seasons, Lindor is doing it all before the All-Star break.
As unconventional as it may look, the sledgehammer has historical roots. Hall of Famers Willie Stargell and Dave Parker were famously photographed using them in the on-deck circle. If it helped MVPs and World Series winners find an edge, maybe it’s giving the Mets one too.
Coincidence or catalyst? Either way, the sledgehammer is delivering more than just style; it might be helping to hammer the Mets’ bats back into form at just the right time.