Torpedo Bats: The Re-Invention of the Baseball Bat 150 Years Later

In 1870, regulations were put in place to define what a baseball bat must be: a maximum length of 42 inches and a maximum diameter of 2.5 inches. Later on the MLB rulebook implemented “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.” These rules were put in place to limit the funky designs many players and companies had come up.

Yet, 150 years after the first regulation was put in place, it seems a scientific breakthrough has been made on the most common model.

Picture a baseball bat, you’ll see a round knob at the bottom, a thin handle designed for a firm grip, the middle section that players snap over their legs after a strikeout, and the notorious barrel of the bat. Also known as the “sweet spot”, about six inches from the cap where the bat is thickest. You may be able to visualize The Great Bambino leaning on this bat, or the late-great Mickey Mantle with bat in hand, all the way up to Bryce Harper clobbering a ball deep into the Philadelphia air with his Victus bat.

For generations, baseball’s greatest players have swung the traditional bat, but 2025 may go down as the year a new design bears the greatness of our game. MIT physicist Aaron Leanhardt had a breakthrough in baseball bat design and unveiled to the world the “torpedo bat,” named after its torpedo-like barrel.

Leanhardt was part of the Yankees’ hitting department in 2022, and through his years in the league, he learned of two major desires for hitters: more sweet-spot action and more contact. The fix seemed simple, really: just move more mass to the barrel of the bat to produce more barrels. In his conversation with Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Leanhardt broke down the physics behind the bat’s effectiveness. “The bat speed can increase a little bit,” he explained, “but ultimately, you’re getting a fatter barrel, a heavier barrel at the sweet spot.”

The “torpedo-bat” debuted Saturday, March 29th, with Yankees hitters Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe. It’s instant rise to fame transpired when the Yankees launched a franchise record nine home runs, becoming the third team to do so in a game. Social media took to these new bats promptly, and within hours of the game ending, articles and interviews surfaced about the bat’s design and designer.

By the following day, players around the league had already been spotted using them in-game. It was a quick turnaround for many players who had just received the bat before pre-game batting practice. This includes Phillies third-baseman Alec Bohm, who used the bat on Monday during his 1-4 performance in their 6-1 triumph over the Rockies.

After the game, Bohm was asked about the torpedo. “Why wouldn’t I try it? It’s a piece of wood. I don’t know. Did I hit a home run?” Bryson Stott added more insightful analysis in the locker room before the game: “If you’re a guy who uses the whole bat…it’s not for you.”

The Phillies’ second baseman has already contacted his “bat-guy” at Victus to place an order for torpedo bats. Additionally, Rob Thomson mentioned in a pre-game presser that Kevin Long is making calls and the team is looking into the new innovation. It’s reported that among Stott and Bohm, Harper and Brandon Marsh also have torpedo bats on the way. The torpedo is designed to increase barrels while also increasing contact percentage, which may prove to be beneficial for a home run-heavy team.

As the season continues, baseball fans should expect to see more players slugging with the torpedo bats and more studies to develop on the effects of the new bat. Phillies fans, specifically, should be aware of their franchise player and former “daycare” residents getting their hands on the new design. The quick rise to fame of torpedo bats may send the game of baseball into an offensive revolution. And for the already home run hungry Phils? They might get starving.

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