Baseball these days feels like a high-tech circus, doesn’t it? Bats are designed to launch rockets, and “launch angles” have practically become the league’s holy gospel. Everyone seems obsessed with this latest invention from MIT physicist Aaron Leanhardt—well, almost everyone. Freddie Freeman? Not so much. Freeman’s 2025 hasn’t been great; he’s been stuck on the sidelines due to his ankle injury. But even now, he’s sticking with his trusty old bat—the one he’s been swinging for 16 years. Talk about loyalty! But here’s a question: Is it just loyalty that’s keeping him away from the shiny new “Torpedo” bat, or is there something else?
Let’s first take a moment to walk through what this new sensation is all about. The Torpedo bat comes with a larger sweet spot and unusual weight distribution, designed to boost hitting efficiency. This clever innovation has been a big factor in the New York Yankees‘ recent offensive explosion, including a jaw-dropping record of nine home runs in a single game against the Milwaukee Brewers. Since then, there has been non-stop debate. Some are hailing the bats as a game-changer, while others are rather concerned about what it means for the integrity of baseball.
As the discussion reached the ears of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ star first baseman, he didn’t seem too captivated. When it comes to equipment, Freeman is quite passionate about his choices, even in the midst of this technological revolution. In a recent interview with Dodgers beat writer Fabian Ardaya, Freeman said, “I’ve swung the same bat for 16 years,” emphasizing his reluctance to change. “I do not look down on anybody. If it’s legal, you can do whatever you want. If it works for the guys, then go for it. I know some of our guys are getting them.”
In incredibly unsurprising news, don’t expect Freddie Freeman to swing a torpedo bat anytime soon.
“I’ve swung the same bat for 16 years,” Freeman said, and he’s not changing it.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) April 1, 2025
Freeman, meanwhile, kicked off the 2025 season on a strong note with his trusty conventional bat. Sure, it’s a small sample size, but all three of his hits in three games and 12 at-bats have gone for extra bases. The former Braves standout has racked up four RBIs and two home runs. Once he’s back in the lineup full-time, you can bet this veteran slugger will continue to dominate at the plate. Interestingly, Freeman isn’t alone in sticking with tradition. Yankees’ captain Aaron Judge has also turned down the flashy new torpedo bat. His reasoning? If something works great, why change it? That’s exactly how he feels about his old lumber.
Critics are already drawing comparisons to past controversies, like the use of corked bats to boost performance by changing their construction. Despite these concerns, MLB has ruled that the Torpedo bat is legal since it complies with current regulations on bat materials and dimensions.
So, here’s the big question: Will more players like Freeman and Judge hold their ground as MLB leans further into technology? Or is the era of conventional bats on its way out?
Performance factor: Does the Torpedo bat make a difference?
The launch of the torpedo bat has sparked debates on its impact on athlete performance. Players like Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. have adopted these bats, contributing to the Yankees’ offensive surge. This suggests a potential link between the bat’s design and the improved hitting efficiency.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 29: Austin Wells #28 of the New York Yankees hits a home run on a torpedo bat in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 29, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
While the Torpedo bat offers advantages like optimized weight distribution and expanded sweet spot, hitting performance still largely depends on the player’s skills and ability to adapt. Former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith noted that the bat’s design aims to add bulk to the sweet spot, turning near-misses into solid hits. However, its effectiveness varies among players, and not everyone sees significant improvement.
Whether it’s Torpedo or traditional bats, at the end of the day, it all comes down to players’ personal taste and consistency. Torpedo may be a brilliant technological development, but it’s certainly not a cheat code to success in MLB. Baseball has faced similar debates before, from batting gloves to analytics-driven strategies. The controversy surrounding the torpedo bat reflects the ongoing tension between innovation and tradition in the sport. Ultimately, players’ choices—whether to embrace new technology or stick with what works—will shape MLB’s future.
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