Are Torpedo Bats the Secret Behind the Yankees’ Dominance?
This past winter, the New York Mets made history by signing a major deal with their crosstown rivals, the Yankees, to acquire Juan Soto. It was a groundbreaking move, signaling the Mets’ commitment to building a powerful offense for the season. Meanwhile, the Yankees were left to fill the void left by Soto’s departure. However, as the season unfolds, the situation has taken an unexpected turn. The Yankees are off to a dominant start, while the Mets are still struggling to find their form.
A significant factor in the Yankees’ success has been the introduction of torpedo bats, a new type of bat with a unique bowling-pin shape designed to increase solidity in the barrel where hitters make contact. The Yankees have capitalized on this innovation, launching 15 home runs in their first three games—more than any other MLB team. They have also amassed a total of 36 runs compared to the Mets’ 15. This raises a crucial question: Are torpedo bats truly making the difference, or is it simply a matter of raw skill?
Juan Soto, now with the Mets, acknowledged that he was aware of torpedo bats last season but chose not to use them. Speaking to the New York Post, Soto admitted, “I had teammates last year that asked me if I wanted to try it, but it never caught my attention. But, yeah, I would try it.” His statement suggests that he initially dismissed the idea, but given the Yankees’ early-season power surge, he might reconsider. Soto has hit only one home run so far this season, and if torpedo bats are indeed providing an advantage, he could be tempted to give them a shot.
However, the performance of Francisco Lindor, one of the few Mets players using a torpedo bat, complicates the argument. Despite making the switch, Lindor struggled significantly, going 0-for-11 at the plate through Sunday. While torpedo bats may offer some advantages, ultimately, a hitter’s skill and technique remain the most crucial factors.
Pete Alonso weighed in on the topic, emphasizing how players across the league are making adjustments to counter increasingly dominant pitching. “With certain bat modifications and stuff now, guys are doing whatever they can to catch up with the pitching, because pitching across the league is pretty darn good,” Alonso explained. This suggests that while equipment changes can play a role, success still depends largely on a player’s ability to adapt and execute.
Aaron Judge, one of the Yankees’ biggest stars, provides another perspective. Despite the hype around torpedo bats, Judge has continued to use his conventional bat. He hit 58 home runs last season and launched three more in the 2025 season opener, including a monstrous 468-foot blast. His rationale is simple: “What I did the last couple of seasons speaks for itself. Why try to change something if you have something that’s working?” His continued success suggests that the Yankees’ offensive explosion may be more about their overall talent than any special advantage from torpedo bats.
Further supporting this point, Alonso noted, “The Yankees had an offensive explosion, and they are a very talented offense, and that can happen even if some of the guys weren’t using the torpedo bat.” This implies that while the bat may be a tool, it is not necessarily the defining factor in the team’s success.
Nonetheless, torpedo bats have sparked debates across the league. More players may experiment with them in the coming months, but they are not a guaranteed game-changer. Judge himself highlighted a key drawback: the redistribution of weight affects a bat’s leverage. “If you bring that weight down the handle, it gets easier and easier to swing, but the sledgehammer becomes less and less effective because the weight is too close to your hands, and that leverage changes,” he explained. In other words, while torpedo bats may increase swing speed, they could also reduce hitting power.
At the end of the day, the decision to use torpedo bats remains a personal choice for each player. While they might offer slight advantages, true success in baseball still comes down to skill, timing, and execution. For Soto and others, the question remains: Will adopting a torpedo bat turn their season around?
What do you think? Are torpedo bats the key to the Yankees’ success, or is it simply a case of superior talent shining through?