It wasn’t only the scoreboard that lit up during the New York Yankees‘ fantastic victory by 20-9 over the Milwaukee Brewers. While the fans were thrilled by the nine home runs in a single game, which shattered records and sent balls flying out of the stadium, a bigger buzz took over the baseball world. It was about the sleek, oddly shaped bats many sluggers carried.
The so-called Torpedo bats became the talk of the town. It’s different and engineered with a unique weight distribution that shifts mass lower to the barrel. Now according to most, this is just genius, or maybe a loophole giving Yankee hitters an edge.
But amidst all the hype, one big name wanted nothing to do with them—Aaron Judge.
Aaron Judge has less than zero interest in using the new torpedo bats.
“What I did the past couple of seasons speaks for itself. Why try to change something if you have something that’s working?”
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) March 30, 2025
Judge, the Yankees captain and one of baseball’s finest hitters, firmly believes in the mantra—if it isn’t broke, why fix it? When asked about the controversial “Torpedo” bat, he said, “What I did the past couple of seasons speaks for itself. Why try to change something if you have something that’s working?” A reply as sharp as his swing. But it’s hard to argue with his logic, especially as Judge continues to build another MVP-level season. In Saturday’s game alone, he went 4-for-6 with three home runs and eight RBIs—proof that he doesn’t need a bat upgrade to dominate the mound.
However, not everyone on the team is dismissive of the Torpedo bats. Cody Bellinger, the Yankees’ key offseason gem, is quite convinced that these bats have potential. Speaking to the New York Daily News, he explained, “There are ways to move the weight of the bat. Some guys like top-heavy; some guys like hand-loaded bats. You just have to find a bat that feels good, that kind of moves with you. I’m a believer in swinging different things.”
Bellinger tested the bats during spring training and quite liked them. But whether it was the best or simply Yankee firepower, the results were undeniable. They crushed the Brewers’ pitching staff, racking up 16 hits and a franchise-record nine home runs.
Are the torpedo bats used by the Yankees even legal?
But with all that hype, there is a big elephant in the room—are these bats legal? Are they pushing the boundaries of baseball’s rulebook? Because anything that drastically alters the way the game goes on is bound to turn heads. But even before the fingers could be pointed at maybe Yankees having unfair advantages, Major League Baseball came in to clarify things. Now, according to Rule 3.02 of the MLB rulebook, the bats must be smooth and round, with a diameter that’s a maximum of 2.61 inches, and the length should be 42 inches. And you guessed it right—the Yankees’ unique torpedo bats check all the boxes. So, according to the rulebook, they are in the clear.
Jun 1, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) stands in the on-deck circle against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports
But then there is a question of why the change, and how does it work? Well, YES Network’s Michael Kay explained the science behind it perfectly. “The Yankee front office, the analytics department, did a study on Anthony Volpe, and every single ball, it seemed like, he hit on the label,” Kay mentioned. “He didn’t hit any on the barrel. So they had bats made up where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat would actually strike the ball.” But it wasn’t just Volpe using them; even Jazz Chisholm Jr. was spotted using one. And on Saturday, Chisholm went 2 for 5 with a homer, and Volpe was 1 for 4 with a homer and two walks.
Now, at the end of the day, the New York Yankees’ offensive power wasn’t just all to do with the bat. Aaron Judge, along with Cody Bellinger, put out a great stat line. The confidence was there, and the crowd was electric. But yes, now with the Torpedo bats in the spotlight, don’t be surprised if other teams also start taking a close look at their potential.
Baseball, at the end of the day, is a game of adjustments. Remember the time when the rosin bag was used by a select few and then became the norm? Well, if there is a legal way to get an edge, you bet teams will use it. Don’t you think?
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