Introduction to the Torpedo-Shaped Bats
The New York Yankees made headlines when they hit a team-record nine homers, traveling a combined 3,695 feet, on Saturday. The attention was drawn to the new torpedo-shaped bats used by the team, which have a strikingly different design. The wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label, and the end is shaped a little like a bowling pin.
The New Bat Design
Players such as Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered in New York’s 20-9 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers using the new bat design. The bat’s unique shape is designed to bring more mass to the sweet spot, potentially leading to more powerful hits.
Reaction from Players and Coaches
Aaron Judge, who hit an AL-record 62 homers in 2022 and 58 last year, didn’t see a reason to experiment with the new bat design. He hit three home runs Saturday using the conventional-shaped bat. "The past couple of seasons kind of speak for itself," Judge said. "Why try to change something?" Manager Aaron Boone commented, "That’s just trying to be the best we can be. That’s one of the things that’s gotten pointed out. I say to you guys all the time, we’re trying to win on the margins and that shows up in so many different ways."
MLB Bat Rules
MLB has relatively uncomplicated bat rules, stating under 3.02: "The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood." It goes on to state there may be a cupped indentation up to 1 1/4 inches in depth, 2 inches wide and with at least a 1-inch diameter, and experimental models must be approved by MLB.
Development of the Torpedo Barrel
Former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith posted online that Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who now works for the Miami Marlins, developed the torpedo barrel to bring more mass to a bat’s sweet spot. Smith wrote, "You’re going up with a weapon that can be better. Your just misses could be clips, your clips could be flares, and your flares could (be) barrels. And it was true, it’s fractions of an inch on the barrel differentiating these outcomes."
Player Experience with the New Bats
Goldschmidt, batting leadoff for the first time, opened with a 413-foot homer off Nestor Cortes, and Bellinger followed with a 451-foot drive that initially didn’t register with Statcast. Judge hit a 468-foot shot that made the Yankees the first team to homer on each of a game’s first three pitches since MLB’s records began in 1988. Bellinger first was presented with the torpedo-shape concept in a batting practice session last season with the Chicago Cubs but did not use it in a game. He was given a more advanced version during spring training this year.
Rule Changes for the 2025 MLB Season
In order to improve fairness and speed up the game, two new rule changes have been implemented for the 2025 MLB season.
Conclusion
The use of torpedo-shaped bats by the New York Yankees has drawn attention to the team’s innovative approach to the game. With the new bat design, players are looking to gain an edge and improve their performance. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how the use of these bats affects the game and whether other teams will follow suit.
FAQs
Q: What is the unique feature of the torpedo-shaped bats used by the New York Yankees?
A: The wood is moved lower down the barrel after the label, and the end is shaped a little like a bowling pin, designed to bring more mass to the sweet spot.
Q: Who developed the torpedo barrel?
A: Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who now works for the Miami Marlins.
Q: What are the MLB bat rules?
A: The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length, with possible cupped indentation and experimental models requiring approval.
Q: How do players feel about the new bat design?
A: Players such as Bellinger and Volpe have expressed positive feelings about the new design, citing its potential to improve their performance.
