The New York Yankees‘ controversial ‘torpedo’ bats are causing a stir after their devastating effect on MLB’s opening weekend – but they could pose a major health risk to players.
The baseball world has been left divided after the new-look bats helped the Yankees hit a team-record nine home runs in their historic 20-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.
Nevertheless, the use of their ‘torpedo’ lumber – which features wood around the label area of the bat as opposed to the barrel – has sparked uproar after a number of fans argued the design should be illegal.
An MLB spokesperson has since confirmed the bats are legal, with rule 3.02 stating: ‘The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.’
Though while they are not breaking any rules, the Yankees may be risking injuries to their star players by using the ‘torpedo’ bats, it has been revealed.
After it was confirmed that he would start the season on the injured list, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton revealed earlier this month that the problems he is dealing with in both of his elbows were caused by ‘bat adjustments’ from last year.
The New York Yankees’ controversial ‘torpedo’ bats could pose a health risk for their players
The oddly-shaped lumber – which features wood around the label area of the bat as opposed to the barrel – has sparked uproar in the baseball world
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It is believed Stanton was actually using the ‘torpedo’ bats on New York’s run to the World Series in 2024, and the tweak to the design potentially led to the injuries that required three rounds of platelet-rich plasma injections after he played through the pain barrier for most of the season.
Outfielder Jasson Dominguez suggested to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch that his teammate was using the bats last season, meaning any players following his lead in 2025 could be risking major injuries themselves.
Despite the apparent health risks they pose, the ‘torpedo’ bats are reportedly designed by a top-level physicist.
Former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith claims they are the brainchild of Aaron Leanhardt, an MIT grad and Michigan physics professor.
‘Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll,’ Smith wrote online. ‘He invented the ‘Torpedo’ barrel. It brings more wood – and mass – to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of ‘barrels’ and decrease misses.’
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy is one of many who believes the bats should be outlawed after going on a lengthy ‘unbiased’ rant about them at the weekend.
‘All of the teams are gonna use it,’ Portnoy claimed after the Yankees’ win over the Brewers. ‘Should it be legal? No. Is it cheating? Yeah, it is.’
Yankees star Giancarlo Stanton revealed his elbow injuries were caused by ‘bat adjustments’
‘If you get sawed off, or you hit the ball off the label, that means you’re not getting your hands through enough and you stink,’ he proclaimed.
‘Just taking the bat and making the thing like a corked bat with this torpedo hump, so all you gotta do is make contact, it’s a home run… That just makes someone who stinks better.’
‘That’s just some geek from MIT ruining 100 years of baseball or 200 years of baseball. So listen, if MLB wants to sit on their a** and not outlaw this torpedo bat, then all the teams around going to do it and every game is gonna be 100-98, there’s gonna be 3,000 home runs.
‘I’m fine with it,’ he claimed. ‘Yankees have a long history of cheating and being scumbags and this just the latest. I think I saw the Twins or some other team using it, but you gotta get rid of the torpedo bats. It’s unfair to the pitchers, it’s stupid for the game.’
