As the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season begins, new Torpedo Bats take the field. This innovative style of a baseball bat is changing players’ games and stirring controversy within the MLB, according to espn.com. After years of development, the Torpedo Bat is now gaining widespread popularity among players.
The Torpedo Bat is a redesigned style of the original baseball bat, featuring more wood concentrated near the middle, rather than the end of the bat. Hence, manufacturers named it, “Torpedo Bat.” This shift in weight distribution reduces the heaviness when facing pitchers and alters how the ball is struck with the goal of increasing batting averages, according to npr.org.
The creation of the Torpedo Bats begun with Mr. Aaron Leanhardt, a former professor at the University of Michigan, according to newyorker.com. Mr. Leanhardt studied the New York Yankees player Mr. Anthony Volpe’s contact with the ball and noticed that he hits the ball at the label near the middle of the bat. This observation led to a collaborative effort between the Yankees and a manufacturer to redesign the bat in 2023, according to espn.com. Developers introduced the bat in 2022. However, it is just began to gain traction during 2025 season, according to cincinnati.com. Mr. Bobby Hillerich, Vice President of Production at Hillerich & Bradsby, the company behind Louisville Slugger Bats, produced 20 new bats for MLB teams within the first week of the season, according to espn.com. While not all MLB players are making this switch to the new bat, those who are say it is changing the way they play the game.
The dispute surrounding the Torpedo Bat continues to rise, and centers on whether MLB should allow the usage of this bat, due to viewers believing that players should discard the usage of the bat due to the advantages it could give players when hitting, according to nbcnewyork.com. However, the controversy stems from the Yankees’ opening series, according to npr.org. The Yankees set an MLB record with 18 home runs in the first four games of a season, with five players using Torpedo Bats, according to mlb.com. Other MLB teams quickly adapted to this style of bat, requesting to order the bats after the Yankees’ success, according to si.com. However, not all players within the Yankees organization use these new bats. Mr. Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ Captain, continues to use the traditional model, according to newyorker.com. Mr. Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Mr. Volpe both hit three home runs in the first three games, setting an MLB record with the Torpedo Bat and continue to lead this record-breaking season, according to mlb.com.
Not only are the Yankees adopting the Torpedo Bat, but many other teams are as well. Alongside the Yankees, players from the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays are also using the bat, according to sports.yahoo.com. A total of 16 MLB players have made the switch. The Yankees have experienced the most drastic change, with five players using the bat, all hitting at least one homerun. More players are expressing interest in trying the bat as the 2025 MLB season progresses, having already witnessed an impactful change, according to sports.yahoo.com.
The MLB rule book reassures the concern of whether MLB should allow Torpedo bats, which outlines all the rules regarding the controversial bat, according to cincinnati.com. As discussions within the league continue, MLB has reiterated its stance on the Torpedo Bat, confirming its legality.
“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 MLB said, according to cincinnati.com. “The base shall be one piece of solid wood. Experimental bats cannot be used until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture.”
Causing a historical change, the bat is already making an impact on players’ game today and will continue to so as the season progresses. Mr. Ryan Jeffers, Minnesota Twins Catcher, explained his view on the Torpedo Bat, according to espn.com.
“The bat is such a unique tool,” Mr. Jeffers said, according to espn.com. “You look at the history of the game, and they used to swing telephone poles. Now you try to optimize it, and it feels like some branches are starting to fall for us on the hitting side of things.”
Featured Image by Bella Boone ’27
