The Yankees' new torpedo bats propel team to record-breaking start
NBC2 days ago
Yankees' 'Torpedo Bat' Stirs Controversy Throughout MLB
Above: Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits a home run during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium on March 30, 2025. Image copyright: New York Yankees/Contributor/Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Though legal at the moment, torpedo bats, which contributed to the Yankees' 15 home runs in 3 games, skew baseball's balance, essentially turning it into slow-pitch softball. Their mass near the hands unfairly favors hitters, risking a homer-heavy game that dims the beautiful art of pitching. If inorganically high home runs continue, the MLB should ban them to save the game.
Narrative B
For all its controversy in the news, the torpedo bat is still a regulation-size wooden bat with a few style tweaks. Just as Formula 1 racecar driving has done for decades, the sport is evolving without changing the heart of the game. Even the Brewers, who were crushed by these bats, said they don't mind it because, in the end, it's the batter's skills, not the bat, that's most important.