A couple of days in the past, nobody on the planet had heard of torpedo bats.
Nicely, apart from some well-connected baseball insiders who obsessively observe such issues. However don’t fear, this isn’t an inside-baseball story.
It’s a grand-slam instance of the collision between a sports activities league and the media enterprise – which have already got a symbiotic relationship on account of zillion-dollar contracts – wherein fixed protection results in cheers and jeers.
So the New York Yankees – who a lot of the nation hates anyway, however not me, as somebody who grew up within the boroughs – have developed this new bat.
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Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees hits a house run on a torpedo bat within the first inning in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 29, 2025, in New York Metropolis. (Mike Stobe/Getty Pictures)
And it has sparked a fierce debate, which is nice for a slow-moving sport that may not declare the mantle of America’s pastime.
The Yanks employed an MIT physicist, who has additionally accomplished work for NASA, Aaron Leanhardt, to work his magic. And due to the ex-announcer, balls have been flying out of the Bronx stadium and on the street.
On Saturday, in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers, the New Yorkers hit three straight homers on the primary three pitches of the sport. Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Adam Choose went growth, growth, growth. First time it’s occurred since MLB started retaining such data in 1988. (Choose doesn’t use the brand new bat.)
Much more insane, the Yanks completed that sport with 9 round-trippers. And added 4 extra house runs on Sunday.
What Leanhardt completed was to maneuver the fattest a part of the bat towards the center, nearer to the batter’s palms, the place he makes contact. That yielded a torpedo form.
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A few fast ideas earlier than we transfer on to the protection.
Groups have been attempting to enhance their bats since Abner Doubleday invented the sport. MLB has strict guidelines in regards to the total dimensions.
The torpedo bats should not unlawful. This isn’t some type of steroid trickery, and even “sticky stuff,” which was banned for pitchers a number of seasons again.
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) bats utilizing a torpedo bat in the course of the first inning in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2025. (Brad Penner-Imagn Pictures)
Anthony Volpe, who homered for the second straight sport Saturday, instructed the AP: “The idea makes a lot sense. I do know I’m purchased in. The larger you’ll be able to have the barrel the place you hit the ball, it is smart to me.”
NBC: “The speak of baseball has been new, torpedo-shaped bats utilized by a number of members of the New York Yankees.”
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Seems the Yanks don’t have a monopoly. CNN: “Twins’ catcher Ryan Jeffers and the Rays’ Junior Caminaro and Yandy Diaz have been additionally noticed utilizing ‘torpedo’ bats in Spring Coaching and over opening weekend. Gamers from across the league additionally began testing them out final season.”
MLB has its personal web site. Leanhardt, now with the Miami Marlins, is quoted in a “Meet the Man” profile as saying: “It is undoubtedly been surreal for the final couple days. On the finish of the day, it is in regards to the batter, not the bat. It is in regards to the hitters and their hitting coaches, not the hitting implements.”
Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers tags out Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the New York Yankees within the fourth inning throughout Sport Three of the 2024 World Collection at Yankee Stadium on October 28, 2024, within the Bronx borough of New York Metropolis. (Luke Hales/Getty Pictures)
However right here comes Deadspin, charging onto the sphere:
“Let’s be trustworthy—these bats aren’t nice for the sport. They’re giving one crew an excessive benefit. Positive, the bats are technically authorized, however different groups must develop their very own designs, ship orders to a producer, and await them to be created and shipped earlier than they may even use them in batting follow or video games.”
The web site is enjoying hardball: “In an absolute nightmare situation, these torpedo bats may spiral uncontrolled, making it tough for the league to control tools requirements. This might result in inconsistencies in enforcement and additional disputes over what’s authorized and what’s banned… The league wants to put down the legislation with the Yankees on these loaded bats.”
ESPN: “Might be essentially the most consequential growth in bat expertise since a technology in the past when gamers forsook ash bats for maple.”
Fox Information: “Everyone’s freaking out, and I believe they’re actually freaking out as a result of it’s the Yankees…It’s been a large house run,” stated Colin Cowherd.
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Sports activities Illustrated: “Chances are high the Yankees are hitting house runs not due to a bat, however as a result of they’re the superior crew to who they’re dealing with within the first collection of the season.”
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When was the final time anybody argued passionately about baseball? The Dodgers clobbered the Yankees within the final World Collection. ESPN lately dropped its contract with Main League Baseball because it was drawing diminishing protection on the sports activities community (and providing much less cash). However a number of days into the season, the Bronx Bombers are as soon as once more residing as much as their title.
