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3w ago

Torpedo Bats Gain Momentum Across MLB Following Yankees' Record Start

The innovative bat design, credited with boosting power-hitting, is being adopted by players league-wide but raises questions about its long-term impact.

Mar 31, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) hits a three-run home run in the second inning against the Texas Rangers at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
CINCINNATI, OHIO - MARCH 31: Elly De La Cruz #44 of the Cincinnati Reds flips his bat on a two-run home run in the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers at Great American Ball Park on March 31, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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Overview

  • The New York Yankees tied an MLB record with 15 home runs in their opening series, with nine attributed to the use of 'torpedo bats.'
  • The bats, designed by physicist Aaron Leanhardt, shift weight closer to the sweet spot, aiming to enhance contact and power for hitters.
  • Players from teams like the Reds, Mets, and Cubs have begun experimenting with the bats, following the Yankees' success.
  • Skepticism persists among some MLB players and executives, with claims that the bats' impact may be marginal or psychological.
  • Leanhardt emphasized that the bats are legal under MLB rules and credited player feedback for refining the design over several years.