The New York Yankees made headlines Saturday after hitting a team-record nine home runs, collectively traveling 3,695 feet, during their 20-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. This impressive feat came with the use of a new type of bat, featuring a torpedo-shaped barrel that shifts wood lower down the barrel and slightly tapers the end, similar to a bowling pin. Players like Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. all homered using the new design.
The Yankees hit four more home runs in a 12-3 win on Sunday, bringing their total to 15 home runs over the first three games of the season, matching the 2006 Detroit Tigers for the most in MLB history. Manager Aaron Boone praised the team’s effort, emphasizing the importance of “winning on the margins” and pointed out that the team’s focus on small details is paying off.
MLB’s bat regulations are relatively simple, stating that bats must be made of solid wood, not exceed 2.61 inches in diameter, and be no longer than 42 inches. A cupped indentation is allowed, but any experimental bat models need MLB approval.
The torpedo barrel was developed by Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees staffer now with the Miami Marlins. Leanhardt’s goal was to add more mass to a bat’s sweet spot. Former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith explained that the torpedo design increases the chances of good contact, turning near-misses into solid hits.
Bellinger, who first saw the torpedo shape during batting practice with the Cubs last season, began using a more advanced version in spring training. He described the bat as feeling “really good” and noted that it was an ounce lighter than his previous bat, with the weight distribution making a noticeable difference.
Cody Bellinger
Bellinger, a former NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers, switched from a maple Louisville Slugger to a birch bat, citing MLB’s 2010 rule change that reduced the allowable diameter from 2.75 inches. Volpe, who hit a home run in both games Saturday and Sunday, also adopted the torpedo bat in spring training, praising its design. Chisholm homered twice on Sunday and shared that he started using the torpedo bat after hitting a double and a home run in spring training with Volpe’s bat.
Despite the success of the new design, Aaron Judge, who set an AL-record 62 home runs in 2022, prefers to stick with his traditional bat, saying his recent performance speaks for itself. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s manager, Pat Murphy, acknowledged that players are always looking for ways to legally gain an edge, supporting innovation that benefits the game.
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