Baseball fans are pumped about something new in the game called torpedo bats. These different-looking bats have a shape that’s way different from regular bats, and they stole the spotlight during the opening weekend of the 2025 weekend. The New York Yankees smashed nine home runs in a single game, with several players swinging torpedo bats.
A torpedo bat is still legal by MLB standards. It can’t be longer than 42 inches or wider than 2.61 inches in the barrel. But what makes it different is the shape. Instead of smoothly tapering toward the end like regular bats, torpedo bats shift their weight lower, closer to where hitters usually make contact. The end is skinnier, while the middle, or the “sweet spot,” is thicker.
This design has two significant benefits. More mass in the sweet spot makes solid contact more powerful, and the lighter end makes the bat easier to swing. MLB rules allow different shapes as long as the bat is round, smooth, and fits the size and material limits. Torpedo bats check all the boxes.
The idea came from Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees coach and an MIT-trained physics professor. He asked players how they could hit better against today’s overpowering pitchers. When they said “bigger barrels,” he worked with bat makers and the torpedo bat was born. Now, The idea is spreading fast around the league, and everyone wants in. Giancarlo Stanton used one last October and went on a home run tear. Francisco Lindor of the Mets nearly won the NL MVP after swinging one. Other stars like Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt have all tested them out. More players around the league are giving them a try, especially after seeing the results of the Yankees on opening weekend.
It’s possible that MLB might ban torpedo bats if they’re found to give hitters too much of an advantage. But for now, league officials are allowing them, especially since pitching has dominated in recent years. Torpedo bats are bringing excitement back to the game. And unless the league steps in, they could become the future of hitting in Major League Baseball.
