- The New York Yankees put up an impressive 20 runs, a whopping nine of which were homers, over the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday. However, some are saying the performance is largely due to a new style of bat dubbed the “Torpedo.”
- At least five Yankees are currently swinging a Torpedo, and each of them homered against the Brewers.
- The Torpedo, which MLB confirmed as legal Sunday, was developed by a former MIT physicist, Aaron Leanhardt, who served as an analyst for the Yankees during the 2024 season.
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The New York Yankees put up an impressive 20 runs, a whopping nine of which were homers, over the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, March 29. However, the conversation isn’t about the sheer magnitude of the Yankees’ dugout, but rather the tools at their disposal.
That’s because the organization is using a bat dubbed the “Torpedo,” developed by former MIT physicist Aaron Leanhardt, who served as an analyst for the Yankees during the 2024 season. Leanhardt has since been hired as the Miami Marlins’ field coordinator.
Unlike a traditional baseball bat, Leanhardt’s Torpedo redistributes the bat’s density, or barrel, so that it’s fatter in the “sweet spot,” where players tend to make contact with the ball most often.
“Really, it’s just about making the bat as heavy and as fat as possible in the area where you’re trying to do damage on the baseball,” Leanhardt explained. The bats were reportedly developed after the Yankees’ analytics department studied how and where shortstop Anthony Volpe was hitting the ball. They determined he frequently connected with it on his bat’s label, which sits further down, as opposed to its barrel. The solution ––move the barrel down.
Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll. 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. pic.twitter.com/CsC1wkAM9G
— Kevin Smith (@KJS_4) March 29, 2025
“The concept makes so much sense. I know I’m bought in,” Volpe said. “The bigger you can have the barrel where you hit the ball, it makes sense to me.”
MLB says the Torpedo fits within its regulations
While the Torpedo bats have raised more than a few eyebrows, the league confirmed Sunday, March 30, that they fit within its guidelines and are legal. Regulation bats cannot be more than 2.61 inches in diameter and 42 inches in length. Essentially, that diameter can be anywhere on the bat.
“[Players are] going to point to a location on the bat that is probably six or seven inches down from the tip of the bat. That’s where the sweet spot typically is,” Leanhardt said. “It’s just through those conversations where you think to yourself, ‘Why don’t we exchange how much wood we’re putting on the tip versus how much we’re putting in the sweet spot?’ That’s the original concept right there.”
The Torpedo has been around since last season
In addition to Volpe, at least four other Yankees have made the switch to the Torpedo, including Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Austin Wells, each of whom clocked a homer against the Brewers on Saturday.
The Torpedo bats were reportedly used through Spring Training, and as far back as last season. However, they failed to catch on in any meaningful way –– something Bellinger, who used one during batting practice during his 2024 season with the Chicago Cubs, attributes to possible refinements.
“We were all kind of looking at this bat, and we were like, ‘Hmm, what is this thing?’” Bellinger said. “It’s so unique. I think there has been some more success with it and maybe some more advancements [since last year].”
Who isn’t swinging the Torpedo?
Not everyone is sold on the Torpedo though. Modern-day legend Aaron Judge is still swinging his normal bat, saying his performance the past couple of seasons “speaks for itself.” Meanwhile, Yankees designated hitter and outfielder, Giancarlo Stanton, suffered elbow injuries last year due to “bat adjustments,” though he hasn’t confirmed if it was Torpedo-related.
While the Yankees are currently receiving all of the Torpedo press, it might not be long before other teams start swinging them.
“Every time I’m on base, guys are asking about it,” Volpe said.
