Mar 27, 2025; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe (11) follows through on a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

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Are the Yankees’ Newly Designed Bats the Reason for Their Record-Breaking Home Run Display?

Is it legal?

The New York Yankees kicked off the second game of their season in electrifying fashion, delivering a record-breaking offensive showcase against the Milwaukee Brewers. With a dominant 20-9 victory, the Yankees smashed a franchise-record nine home runs, falling just one short of the all-time MLB record. Aaron Judge led the charge, launching three homers and narrowly missing a fourth. But beyond the fireworks, a subtle innovation may have played a crucial role: the introduction of the Yankees’ newly designed bats.

During the home run barrage, the YES Network broadcast highlighted a noticeable change in the bats used by several Yankees, including Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Anthony Volpe. The Yankees’ analytics department, after extensive research, identified that many of their hitters were making contact closer to the label rather than the barrel. To counteract this, they adjusted the bat’s construction, moving more mass toward the area where players tend to make contact.

JAZZ GOES DEEP! THE YANKEES HAVE SEVEN HOMERS IN THREE INNINGS pic.twitter.com/NQ1pOMhTed
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 29, 2025

“You see the shape of Chisholm’s bat? The Yankee front office, the analytics department, did a study on Anthony Volpe, and every single ball it seemed like he hit on the label,” broadcaster Michael Kay explained during the game. “They had bats made up where they moved a lot of the wood into the label, so the harder part of the bat is actually striking the ball.”

Year 3 Volpe is different

On pace for 162 homers pic.twitter.com/aXNLKutGCe
— Eric Hubbs (@BarstoolHubbs) March 29, 2025

Dubbed the ‘Torpedo,’ this bat design was developed with input from the Yankees’ front office and, reportedly, an MIT physicist on the team’s payroll. The goal is to increase barreled contact and reduce mishits, theoretically enhancing power and consistency at the plate.

The results speak for themselves. Both Volpe and Chisholm homered with their modified bats on Saturday, while Cody Bellinger, who is using a slightly less exaggerated version of the design, also went deep and contributed four RBIs. Volpe had already homered on Opening Day, further fueling speculation that these bats may be a key factor in the his offensive outburst.

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However, it’s worth noting that not all Yankees have adopted the new design. Judge, who had a monster performance with three home runs, did not appear to be using one. With nine home runs in a single game, the Yankees’ offensive explosion can’t solely be attributed to bat design, but the potential impact of the ‘Torpedo’ is undeniable.

Are the Yankees’ New Bats Legal?

Whenever a new piece of equipment raises eyebrows, questions about its legality inevitably follow. But according to a league spokesperson, the Yankees’ bats do not violate MLB rules.

MLB Rule 3.02 states that “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.” It also clarifies that “experimental” bats require MLB approval before use. The Yankees’ bats meet all these criteria, making them fully compliant with league regulations.

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With confirmation from MLB and an immediate impact on the field, the ‘Torpedo’ bats may be here to stay. While their true long-term effectiveness remains to be seen, one thing is clear, opposing pitchers might want to take note. The Yankees have a new weapon at the plate, and they’re wasting no time putting it to use.

Aaron Judge

Brewers

Yankees

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.