Damn the Torpedoes, MLB goes Bat-Crazy over Yankees early Success

Not since December 7th, 1941, have torpedoes done as much damage. The only thing MLB clubs could talk about after the New York Yankees' 15 home run derby shots against the Milwaukee Brewers was the new torpedo bats that were brought to our attention. It was announced shortly after the second game that they were approved by MLB, yet this didn't stop the internet debates over the legality. Why is all of baseball going crazy over this scientific adjustment of equipment?

The Yankees' thorough pounding of the Brewers at Yankee Stadium was immediately linked to reports of the Bronx Bombers using bats shaped like torpedoes. Jazz Chisholm, Anthony Volpe, and Austin Wells all use this bat. What makes it unique is the wood distribution to the sweet spot of a specific hitter. The idea is to reinforce the spot where a player would make contact normally. This packing of wood also cuts down on broken bats and gives the batter extra force in his power zone. It doesn't feel different, says players like Jazz, but the eye test shows swings that are quick and powerful. The Yankees are making contact, in particular the young stars who are looking to make themselves a force in the everyday lineup.

Interestingly, it was also reported that Giancarlo Stanton used this bat last year. It's not a new invention. He refused to be baited on whether it caused the elbow injuries, responding only that he would use it upon his return. His recent playoff explosion implies that this bat can help to maximize a specific talent in the swing. But the bat in the hands of professional hitters like Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger, and you just add an additional weapon. “The weight is closer to my hands... that was the biggest benefit,” Cody explained, “The bigger the sweet spot, the greater margin for error.” There are other players across the league using it with mixed results. Aaron Judge, who nearly hit four home runs in one game, chose not to use it. It depends on what you think you need. So why the problem?

The analytics behind the technology are most intriguing. The Yankees talk endlessly about their analytics teams. The results tell us they are always behind the curve. The addition of a man from MIT, however, was an example of the Yankees finally trying to innovate in areas that have an actual application to the sport and performance of its players. Aaron Leanhart is the man behind the veil. But this physicist, who was part of the team that cooled sodium gas to the lowest temperature ever, also participated in another kind of team. One that plays on a diamond. Aaron played amateur baseball as a shortstop, which gives him practical insight into the game from more than one perspective. Before leaving the Yankees for Florida, he left a parting gift. The torpedo bat. “It's a credit to the players that had conversations with me two years ago and were willing to be patient zero and to demo the first versions of this,” explained Leanhart.

Leonhart and his friend at MIT, Dr. David Pritchard, believe that the bats used by baseball players, design-wise wise are anti-physics. They see it as a simple equation that causes the ball to, in essence, bend the bat and keeps players from getting solid contact. The expansion of the bat around the sweet spot allows for a more physics-oriented touch. “The bat is a little fatter there,” Pritchard pointed out, “And so, every now and then a pitch that otherwise would have been a strike is now a foul and any pitch that would have been a little too high and been a long fly ball is now a little bit lower and goes over the fence.”

The Yankees are not the first to try this, but they have brought more eyes to it. Physics was not an area that most would have anticipated being used in a sport that is long on tradition and slow to innovation. But performance edges, when legal, can bring a crucial edge in a league that is, for the most part, equal. The Yankees lost a generational talent in 2025 but may have stumbled on a generational bat. It's only one series, so it remains to be seen how this will translate over a season. However, the mindset of a player and what he feels comfortable welding can make all the difference. As Volpe explained simply, “It's exciting.” Let baseball continue to scoff at the team that they laughed at only a few months ago.