MLB.com reports:
The bat model was a Dove Tail PA20, nicknamed “Haley’s Comet” as an ode to Pete Alonso’s fiancée. Alonso initially used it during his dramatic win over Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the Home Run Derby last month. He brought it back Saturday for Players’ Weekend after breaking a flashier model featuring his nickname, a polar bear.
The choice proved wise. Upon clubbing a Max Fried fastball to deep center field in the fifth inning Saturday, Alonso clutched “Haley’s Comet” with both hands as he hopped toward first base. Only once the ball began descending did Alonso chuck the bat toward a patch of grass in front of the Mets’ dugout, freeing his right hand to curl into a fist.
The home run was Alonso’s 41st, matching the Mets’ franchise record with more than five weeks still to play. In a season that has already exceeded all rational expectations for his first year, and that stands a strong chance of ending with a National League Rookie of the Year Award, Alonso added another piece of history to his profile.
With 41 homers, Alonso matched Todd Hundley and Carlos Beltran, who have shared the Mets’ franchise mark since the latter hit his 41st in 2006. Alonso joined them in a 9-5 loss to the Braves at Citi Field; his homer briefly gave the Mets a 5-4 lead, though the Braves tied the game with a run in the sixth off starter Zack Wheeler.
“It’s nuts,” Alonso said of the milestone home run. “As soon as the ball left the bat, I just knew it. The fans went absolutely nuts. It’s something you dream about as a kid. It’s surreal.”
Earlier this year, Alonso gave Dove Tail a list of suggestions for bat art. One was “Haley’s Comet” to recognize Haley Walsh, who accepted Alonso’s marriage proposal last November. The bat features a red, yellow and blue flame design, along with an axe handle that has become the signature of both Alonso and teammate Jeff McNeil.
Major League rules prevent players from using bats with flashy designs during the regular season, however, leaving Alonso with few chances to swing it. His first prominent opportunity surfaced during the Home Run Derby, which he won. The next came during Players’ Weekend, the three-game event in which hitters are encouraged to decorate their bats as much as they see fit. On Friday night, Alonso tried a bat featuring a roaring polar bear, but snapped it on his first swing of the night. He tried two other bats in that game, including a bright orange model, finishing 1-for-6 with three strikeouts.
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