The start of the 2025 MLB season was taken by storm on opening weekend with the phenomenon of the new “torpedo bats”. On March 29, the Yankees opened their season with the new bowling-pin-shaped bats.
In the first inning of their season opener, the New York Yankees launched four home runs. They would go on to blast five more for a total of nine throughout the game. Commentators and viewers alike discovered the unique shape of the bats all Yankees hitters seemed to be using, noting the expanded diameter of the barrel.
The rapid success of the Yankees hitters would soon lead to a social media craze. From big leaguers to little leaguers, many were searching the depths of the internet for a bat of this shape, hoping to replicate the same results. Not even a week later, every MLB team had placed an order for the new bats, Sports Illustrated reported.
The outlandish demand for the bowling-pin-shaped bats, brought attention to bat-maker Victus. “I’ve been making bats for 15, 16 years. This is the most talked-about thing in the industry since I started. And I hope we can make better-performing bats that work for players,” said Jared Smith, company CEO
While some may argue these bats are monumental for hitters, these bats have actually been around for a while. Hitters including Nico Hoerner, Cody Bellinger and Drake Baldwin all tried the bat in the past and didn’t care for it. “I know that the bats have been experimented with by other players in the past and I think the fact that they didn’t keep using them shows that maybe they are not “magical” and rather it’s just a coincidence that multiple Yankee’s players had success with the bat,” pitcher Bo Collingwood said.
Regardless, some fans and players have questioned the legality of the bat; while it is legal now, some believe it should be banned while others believe it is just part of the game “Pitchers have an advantage because of harder throwing, so modifying a bat without using illegal substances or anything added should be ok. It also has negative effects on the hitter because they won’t be able to get away with not hitting the sweet spot, but it’s a risk they take,” Collingwood said.
Physicists seem to have contradicting ideas about what makes the bats’ hitting ability special or if it is special at all. At the major league level, a special bat may help make the difference, but for many younger athletes, the craze for a new bat may be incredibly overpromoted. “While the big leagues seem to be having success with the bats, they aren’t something that should be used across all levels. For younger athletes it is not the bat that is going to make the difference, but rather consistent training and a solid swing,” avid baseball fan Matt Pruit said.
Regardless of the disputed physical advantage of these torpedo-bats, their debut triumphantly took over the sports world and bat market. It is yet to be seen if the MLB and other associations will continue to allow the unique bat shape, but for now, the torpedo bat and its success live on.
