With all the eye surrounding the Yankees’ torpedo bats over the previous few days, one would possibly assume they’re the one workforce utilizing them.
That’s removed from the case, no matter what opposing followers and uniformed speaking heads could also be suggesting for the reason that funky-looking bats drew consideration within the Bombers’ nine-homer, 20-9 win over the Brewers on Saturday. Actually, a number of different groups and gamers have already experimented with torpedo bats on the naked minimal, whereas others have stated that they both plan on making an attempt them or are not less than within the design.
“I know it’s been going around a little bit the last couple of years with some teams,” stated Aaron Boone, whose Yankees teaching workers employed torpedo bat inventor Aaron Leanhardt final season.
Leanhardt, now with the Marlins, beforehand labored within the Yankees’ minor league system, has a PhD in physics from MIT, and taught the topic on the College of Michigan. His completely authorized torpedo bats have barrels nearer to the deal with and have appeared within the arms of present Yankees Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Austin Wells, Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger.
After all, non-Yankees are utilizing them, too.
Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers is utilizing the torpedo bat at present pic.twitter.com/c88eYn4UcS
Amicone beforehand served because the Yankees’ Triple-A hitting coach, so he knew concerning the torpedo bats earlier than this season. So did Brewers lefty Nestor Cortes – a former Yankee – who stated Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Trevino, now with the Reds, truly started swinging the bats in 2024.
So did Bellinger, who tried the designs with the Cubs final season earlier than selecting a torpedo mannequin with the Yankees this spring.
“We were swinging it in Chicago last year for batting practice only,” Bellinger stated. “We were all kind of looking at this bat like, ‘Hmmmm, what is this thing?’ You know what I mean? Because it’s so unique.”
Not so distinctive, nonetheless, that the bats haven’t popped up elsewhere throughout the majors and minors.
In response to MassLive’s Chris Cotillo, Alex Cora stated some Crimson Sox gamers examined the bats throughout spring coaching this yr. MLB.com’s Mitch Bannon photographed the torpedo bat that Toronto’s Davis Schneider makes use of. The Rays’ Junior Caminero stated he’ll use a torpedo generally, in keeping with The Tampa Bay Occasions’ Marc Topkin, whereas Adley Rutschman is among the many Orioles’ early customers, per The Baltimore Banner’s Andy Kostka.
“That’s not something that’s unique to the Yankees,” Orioles hitting coach Cody Asche stated, per Kostka. “I think a lot of teams are doing that around the league. They may have some more players who have adopted it at a higher rate, but I think if you’re around clubhouses, all 30 teams, you would see a guy or two who’s adopting a bat that is fashioned maybe more specifically for their swing.
“I think that’s probably the next progression in hitting. Finding out where you hit the ball in the sweet spot and putting more mass there without changing too many things.”
Whereas experimental bat designs are nothing new, Bellinger stated that MLB hitters have put a better emphasis on weight distribution and personalization in the case of their instruments within the final three or 4 years. He and Boone likened the shift to the best way wherein golfers are explicit about their golf equipment.
Gamers on groups that could be behind the curve have stated they’re within the torpedo bats.
Throughout Sunday Evening Baseball’s Braves-Padres broadcast, San Diego’s Manny Machado advised ESPN he’d like a cargo of torpedo bats despatched to Petco Park. That very same broadcast reported that the Braves simply positioned an order for the bats.
The Braves put in an order for torpedo bats after seeing what the Yankees did with them on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/a0IrvhAwFt
The Brewers, victimized by the Yankees’ bats over the weekend, additionally expressed an curiosity in them.
Christian Yelich had not beforehand heard of the bats, however he appeared open to swinging some.
“If it is a technological advancement on the hitting side, it’d be cool because we’ve been kind of playing catch-up with the pitching side,” Yelich stated. “If you can use technology to make yourself perform better, as long as it’s within the rules, why not?”
Nevertheless, Yelich and different Brewers made it clear that torpedo bats aren’t the rationale why the Yankees swept them in embarrassing style. As Milwaukee supervisor Pat Murphy put it, “It’s not like some magical wood.”
That remark got here after Volpe, who loves his new bat, questioned whether or not it offered nothing greater than a “placebo” impact.
Murphy added that his Brewers started the season with out eight of their high 13 arms and threw numerous pitches down the center of the plate. These will get crushed by any bat within the large leagues.
“My old ass will tell you this for sure: It ain’t the wand, it’s the magician,” Murphy stated. “So if the bats help, I’m sure every guy in the league will be using them within a week. But I’m telling you, it’s the hitter, not the bat.”
