With the 2025 season underway new things have transpired one of which is the torpedo bat. The torpedo bat which is what it sounds like it is a bat shaped like a torpedo. It is a customized bat that tailors the barrel to each player’s sweet spot on the bat. The wood in the bat is shifted so the hardest part of the bat always makes contact with the ball. It works more ways than not as it’s drastically improved the likes of many hitters including the New York Yankees who have taken advantage of the new evolution of baseball bats.

​Michael Kay, the YES Network announcer, first brought attention to the Yankees’ use of “torpedo” bats during a broadcast on March 29, 2025. He explained that the Yankees’ analytics department had studied Anthony Volpe’s hitting patterns and found he often made contact near the label of the bat rather than the barrel. To address this, Volpe and other players began using bats with more wood concentrated near the label, a design aimed at enhancing performance.

The Yankees in Saturday’s game on March 29th against the Brewers had some players try out the new torpedo bats which resulted in a score of 20-9. In addition, four players hit four 1st inning home runs off tying the record of three consecutive homers off the first three pitches in a game. Players like Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm and Austin Wells were some of the Yankees to make the switch over to the torpedo bats and the results speak for themselves.

Chisholm began using the torpedo bat after a successful trial in spring training with Anthony Volpe’s bat. He expressed enthusiasm for the bat, noting, “I love my bat… It just helps you in a real way I guess.” ​

As for Wells , he is among the Yankees players who adopted the torpedo bat and had the results pay off quick as he’s hit two home runs during the team’s first three games, indicating a promising start with the new bat. ​ Although only Jazz has a positive batting average out of the three as his 2025 season is off to his best start ever with a .313 with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs, and a 1.264 OPS in 16 at-bats to show for it. However both Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe are both hitting under .168 but they have shown strong signs of power with both having well over a .900 OPS and at least 2 home runs in their short 12 at bat sample.

Many have asked if torpedo bats is illegal in baseball and though it is allowed in the game of baseball it certainly provides the batters with an easier time at the plate. However the Yankees were not the first to use the torpedo bats as they’ve been used for years by the rest of major league for years. People have complained and asked whether this is legal in baseball and that how all of sudden the Yankees have already clobbered the most home runs in a 6 game span for their franchise as well as hitting a team record 9 home runs in a game which was done the same day they beat the Brewers 20-9.

As of April 2, 2025, torpedo bats are legal in Major League Baseball (MLB). These bats comply with MLB Rule 3.02, which stipulates that a bat must be a smooth, round stick not exceeding 2.61 inches in diameter at its thickest part and 42 inches in length, made from a single piece of solid wood. The torpedo bats’ design, featuring a barrel positioned closer to the hitter’s hands and a skinnier top end, adheres to these specifications. ​

Despite their compliance with current regulations, the introduction of torpedo bats has sparked debate within the baseball community. Some insiders predict that MLB may consider banning these bats in the future due to concerns about fairness and the potential impact on the game’s integrity. However, as of now, no official action has been taken to prohibit their use. ​

It will be interesting to see new wave of hitters blossom at the plate with the addition of torpedo bats helping ease their swing and give them more sweet spot control. I cannot wait to see the league wide affect it will create for major league and perhaps maybe it will bring back the much needed power surge for the majors.