With the Major League Baseball (MLB) season having begun, a new discovery has taken place within the sport.
This discovery was the invention of the torpedo bat, a bowling-pin shaped bat that has coincided with an increase in home runs over the first week of the season. While this number is expected to increase as the season progresses, there is a possibility that the torpedo bat may lead to higher than usual numbers. This has led to some questioning the legalities of the torpedo bat.
However, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred does not agree with this claim. He stated that the torpedo bat was good for baseball and that the debate is what makes baseball unique from other sports. Although the bats will be a controversial topic for an extended period of time, Manfred did not suggest or advocate for a rule change that would ban the torpedo bat.
The torpedo bat became controversial during a spring training game on March 29, when the New York Yankees hit nine home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. This led to the Yankees broadcast channel, YES Network, explaining the origin of the bats.
The bats were invented by Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who now works as a coach on the Miami Marlins. He designed the bat with the intention of more mass being placed where the hitters make contact with the ball, improving the chances of a ball being put in play.
Despite the difference in the shape of the bat, there is no effect on how they are made. With torpedo bats progressively becoming more popular, one can be purchased for a similar price to a regular bat as the cost is at around $200. As torpedo bats begin to get used by various players and teams, one can wonder how the rest of baseball will catch up to its newest addition.
