The New York Yankees made a splash this weekend with their power-hitting display, launching a record-breaking nine home runs in a single game against the Milwaukee Brewers. These weren’t just any homers; they combined to travel an astonishing 3,695 feet, thanks in part to the introduction of new “torpedo” bats that have sparked plenty of interest among players and fans alike.
The innovative design of these bats features a wooden barrel that is shifted lower, shaping the end akin to a bowling pin. This adjustment aims to amplify the “sweet spot,” and it seemed to pay immediate dividends as the Yankees’ star players, including Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr., each sent one over the outfield fence during New York’s 20-9 blowout victory.
On Sunday, the Yankees maintained their momentum, cracking four additional homers in a 12-3 win. With a remarkable total of 15 home runs in just three games, they’ve matched the all-time record set by the 2006 Detroit Tigers for the most home runs hit in the initial trio of games to start a season. That’s a serious statement, and it’s clear the Yankees are embracing every opportunity to swing for the fences.
Manager Aaron Boone emphasized the team’s commitment to improvement. “That’s just trying to be the best we can be,” he said. “We’re trying to win on the margins and that shows up in so many different ways.” It’s a mindset that resonates throughout the clubhouse, especially with the innovative equipment they’re using.
MLB’s bat regulations are typically straightforward. According to Rule 3.02, bats must be made of solid wood and not exceed 2.61 inches in diameter. Nonetheless, the allowance for a cupped indentation and the necessity for experimental models to receive MLB approval have opened the door for new designs, like the torpedo barrel.
Kevin Smith, a former Yankees infielder, shared his insights online. He credited Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees staffer now with the Miami Marlins, for conceptualizing this bat design to enhance performance. Smith put it succinctly: “You’re going up with a weapon that can be better. Your just misses could be clips; your clips could be flares, and your flares could be barrels.” It’s an intriguing way to think about how even slight adjustments in equipment can influence outcomes at the plate.
In the spotlight, Goldschmidt made an impressive debut leading off, hitting a 413-foot homer off pitcher Nestor Cortes. Bellinger followed suit with a massive 451-foot shot—a blast that initially went unrecorded by Statcast but surely caught the attention of all watching. The Yankees made history by becoming the first team to hit homers on the first three pitches of a game since MLB began tracking such stats in 1988, thanks to a 468-foot drive from Aaron Judge.
Bellinger highlighted the transformation he felt with the new bat. He first encountered the torpedo design during batting practice with the Cubs last season, but it wasn’t until spring training this year that he gave it a serious shot. “I started swinging this one early on, and I was like, ‘Oh it feels good,’” Bellinger shared. “It was an ounce lighter than the one I was swinging, but the way the weight was distributed felt really good.”
The 2019 NL MVP, who switched from a maple Louisville Slugger to a birch bat, noted that MLB’s adjustments to bat regulations influenced his choice. “Birch allows me to get the bigger barrel because I wasn’t grandfathered in,” he explained.
Volpe, who homered for the second consecutive game, echoed similar sentiments about the torpedo bat. “The concept makes so much sense. I know I’m bought in,” he remarked, appreciating the bigger barrel’s advantage.
Chisholm, who knocked out two homers on Sunday, recounted his decision to use the torpedo bat after seeing success with it in spring training. “I love my bat,” he said, already a fan of the feel and performance it offers.
As for Judge, the towering slugger who set an AL record for most home runs in a season just a year prior, he’s sticking with what’s worked for him. “The past couple of seasons kind of speak for itself,” said Judge after hitting his third career three-homer game. “Why try to change something?”
Meanwhile, Brewers manager Pat Murphy, who has experience in bat development through his work with various bat companies, appreciates the competitive spirit players bring to the game. “Players are doing everything to try to get an edge today legally, and I think they should. Whatever is good for the offensive game is good for the game.”
With the Yankees showcasing a blend of tradition and innovation, fans can expect an exciting season ahead. It seems the team is committed to maximizing every advantage, and the early results suggest they just might be on the verge of something special.
