Major League Baseball’s opening week has been dominated by a single, controversial innovation: the “torpedo bat.”
For the first time in baseball’s long, decorated history, a New York Yankees in-house physicist proposed thickening the barrel of the bat where contact is most often made.
The result? A massive surge in home runs – and plenty of heated debate.
While it’s too early to determine the true impact of the torpedo bat – especially since some teams haven’t even played in their home ballparks yet – it has already injected a fresh element into a sport known for resisting change.
Not everyone is up in arms about the new bats, though.
Some pitchers, like Philadelphia Phillies reliever Matt Strahm, say hitters can “use whatever bat they want” – as long as pitchers get to use pine tar…
“Let them use whatever bat they want. Let’s just allow pitchers to use whatever hitters have in the on deck circle. And not check us like we are criminals every time we walk on or off the field. I’m just a pitcher but I’m assuming better grip helps ya swing harder,” Strahm posted on X.
Strahm didn’t stop there. He also called for an end to mandatory umpire hand checks, which were introduced as part of MLB’s crackdown on foreign substances in 2021.
Since the ban, pitchers have scrambled to adjust as MLB worked to eliminate workarounds.
While some relied on a mix of legal substances like sunscreen and rosin, others used Pelican Grip, a tacky compound so strong it left baseball leather residue on their fingers.
While the public largely supported the ban – blaming sticky substances for skyrocketing spin rates and declining batting averages – pitchers have long argued that grip enhancers help with control, reducing wild pitches and hit batters.
Strahm isn’t advocating for the return of super-sticky substances, but he believes pine tar should be allowed.
MLB’s experiment with the torpedo bat is still in its infancy, but the debate is only growing.
Some players, like Dodgers infielder Max Muncy, gave it a quick trial run before abandoning it.
Muncy used the bat for three at-bats before switching back and promptly hitting a game-tying double.
Is the torpedo bat a revolution in hitting technology or just an early-season gimmick? That remains to be seen.
Either way, it’s stirring debate across the league and has become quite a polarizing issue … Where do you stand on the whole torpedo bat craze???
