Bryce Harper Reveals New Bat Used to Hit for Historic Cycle in Phillies' Win vs. Mets

Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper brought out a different piece of lumber before hitting for the cycle in Saturday's 15-3 win over the New York Mets.

According to The Athletic's Matt Gelb, Harper used a 35-ounce bat, which is much heavier than his usual weight of 31.5 ounces. The bat had also seen its fair share of action, albeit behind the scenes. The two-time MVP had previously swung it during indoor practice sessions.

"I said to [hitting coach Kevin] Long about a month ago, I was like, 'Man, I want to swing this thing in the game,' and I never did," he said, per MLB.com's Paul Casella. "And I finally was like, 'Screw it, I'm gonna do it today.'"

The results speak for themselves. Harper homered in the first inning, had a double and single in the third, and then tripled in the fifth to complete his cycle.

Bryce Harper Hits Cycle in 5 Innings

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There isn't a universal standard in terms of how much a bat should weigh.

New York Yankees legend Babe Ruth purportedly preferred between 40 and 47 ounces. Most, however, have opted for a bat in the low 30s on the basis that a lighter weight would make it easier to get around on a swing. That's important now more than ever with so many pitchers hitting the high 90s or even 100 mph.

Baseball players are a superstitious bunch, so it should come as little surprise that Harper intends to keep his 35-ouncer on hand for Sunday's rubber match. According to Gelb, he even told Philadelphia's director of clubhouse services he's order more.

The eight-time All-Star was already having a good year by his usual standards. Maybe he found the trick to unlock additional power at the plate.