The New York Yankees shook Major League baseball during their March 29th game against the Milwaukee Brewers due to their use of experimental bats. The new bat deviates from the traditional MLB bat formula. The bat has moved some of the wood away from the end of it and more towards the barrel. This leads to a bowling pin type of shape with a bigger barrel but smaller end.
The bat’s new “torpedo” shape was devised, according to former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith on X, by “a literal genius MIT Physicist, [Aaron Leanhardt].” Smith then explained his view on the motivation behind Leanhardt’s changes to the bat, “It brings more wood–and mass–to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of ‘barrels’ and decrease misses.”
The bat’s new appearance is akin to a torpedo, with the extra wood on the barrel providing a more streamlined shape, however many MLB players find the design peculiar looking. Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts said, “I thought it was a joke at first,” with his teammate Manny Machado saying, “I have no idea what they are,” during an ESPN in-game interview. However, both players admitted that, if the bats are as effective as the Yankees claim they are, they would like to try them out, with Machado commenting “[The Yankees] should send a few over here if they’re going to be hitting homers like that.”
While Bogaerts and Machado, as well as other MLB players, are intrigued by the change, many people were skeptical that the bats were legal. MLB rule 3.02 states, “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.” The Associated Press further clarified that the MLB must approve all experimental baseball bats for them to be legal in play. According to NPR, he last significant departure in bat tradition in the MLB was the implementation of maple wood bats—as opposed to the traditional white ash—in 1993, which has now become one of the industry’s wider used bat woods.
The Yankees used their “torpedo” bats in a 4-2 win against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday, March 28. The bat has been scarcely used throughout baseball in the last couple of years, but the knowledge of its existence has been around. Teams around the league have tried it, but its different look and feel made some players uncomfortable. Clearly, some Yankees players have not had the same reaction as shortstop Anthony Volpe, and others have fallen in love with the new style. The bat came into play the next day in another game against the Brewers. In this game, the Yankees scored a whopping 20 runs, opening with three home runs which is the first time a team has done this since the MLB’s began keeping records in 1988. Their next game, also against the Milwaukee Brewers, on March 30 had a similar success, with the Yankees winning 12-3.
Despite controversy, there is not enough statistical evidence to say that the Yankee’s performance has been significantly improved due to the implementation of the “torpedo” bat. While they are averaging 12 runs a game, they have also only played three games this season. Their increase in runs could be caused by training, players, or numerous other factors independent of the change in baseball bats.
While their shocking 9 home runs in the March 29 game did tie a league record, only time will tell if the Yankees can keep their streak going, and only time will tell if their departure from a standard set in 1884 will be a success.
The Yankees have nine more home runs than any other team in the American League. There are many reasons as to why this could be the case, but if their historic home run start continues, the torpedo bats will stay in the news.
