MLB Stars Embrace Torpedo Bats: Yankees Lead the Trend

Major League Baseball is buzzing with conversations about the newest bat innovation: the torpedo bat.

This unconventional design, pioneered by the New York Yankees and backed by science, has sparked curiosity, debate, and an early-season offensive explosion.

With players across the league already adopting the torpedo bat, its rapid rise might signify a revolutionary shift in baseball’s hitting mechanics.

Let’s explore the details behind this phenomenon and why the torpedo bat might just be the game-changer your favorite team is looking for.

What Are Torpedo Bats?

The torpedo bat marks a significant departure from the traditional look of a baseball bat.

What sets it apart is its thicker sweet spot or barrel that narrows toward the tip, creating a shape reminiscent of a bowling pin.

While unconventional in design, the torpedo bat meets all MLB equipment regulations, making it perfectly legal for in-game use.

The Science Behind the Design

The Yankees turned to science to create the torpedo bat, and the results speak volumes.

Aaron Leanhardt, an MIT physicist and former Yankees hitting analyst, spearheaded the design process.

By analyzing shortstop Anthony Volpe’s swing data, Leanhardt discovered that Volpe frequently made contact near the bat’s label—a typically inefficient zone for power hitting.

The solution? Redistributing the bat’s weight and wood profile to optimize high-contact areas, thereby enhancing performance.

Leanhardt’s groundbreaking work doesn’t end with Volpe.

According to Jazz Chisholm Jr., one of the five Yankees currently using the torpedo bat, the aim is simple: increase effectiveness where hitters tend to make contact most often.

The early results suggest the design is doing just that.

Early Success Stories: Yankees Light the Fuse

The Yankees wasted no time showcasing the torpedo bat’s potential.

In their first three games of the 2025 season, the Bronx Bombers launched 15 home runs and scored a staggering 36 runs.

Among the five Yankees utilizing the new bat—Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells—it’s safe to say the innovation is off to a fiery start.

Performance Beyond the Bronx

The ripple effect of the torpedo bat is already being felt across the league.

The Cincinnati Reds’ star Elly De La Cruz stole headlines when he debuted the torpedo bat with an incredible performance: a 4-for-5 outing that included two home runs and seven RBIs in a dominant 14-3 win over the Texas Rangers.

Similarly, players from other franchises like Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner of the Cubs have jumped on board, adopting the design after preliminary experiments last season.

Meanwhile, some of baseball’s elite talents, including Adley Rutschman and Francisco Lindor, have also incorporated torpedo bats into their arsenals.

Stars like Manny Machado, Rhys Hoskins, and even emerging players like Ernie Clement have reportedly expressed interest and have either ordered shipments or are eager to try them out.

This widespread adoption hints at a broader trend that could take over MLB sooner rather than later.

Are Torpedo Bats a Guaranteed Game-Changer?

Despite the early results, not everyone is convinced the torpedo bat is the sole reason for this offensive surge.

Yankees captain Aaron Judge, who tallied an impressive four home runs during the team’s opening series, did so using his usual bat.

His performance serves as a reminder that talent and execution play a significant role, regardless of the equipment in hand.

Divide in Opinions

The buzz around the torpedo bat has certainly captured league-wide attention, but some skeptics question its exaggerated credit for the Yankees’ success.

After all, the team boasts a lineup stacked with all-stars and seasoned power hitters. Even with that caveat, the impact of the innovative bat cannot be denied, as demonstrated by the early success of players like De La Cruz.

What’s Next for the Torpedo Bat?

As the 2025 MLB season unfolds, all eyes will be on how the torpedo bat continues to influence offensive production.

Teams across the league are constantly hunting for an edge—whether it’s analyzing data, tweaking mechanics, or embracing new technology. The torpedo bat seems to check all these boxes.

If its adoption grows, we could witness a full-on revolution in hitting.

With at least nine players outside of the Yankees already on board and numerous others expressing interest, the torpedo bat is quickly becoming more than a curiosity—it’s establishing itself as a potential cornerstone of modern baseball.

Will this unique bat reshape hitting statistics, home run totals, and team strategies? Only time will tell.

One thing is clear, though: MLB’s torpedo bats are making waves, and plenty of players—and fans—are riding the tide.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Which MLB players are using torpedo bats? Yankees lead the way, but other stars have embraced unique bat shape