Remember the infamous corked bat incident involving Chris Sabo? MLB has seen its fair share of bat-related controversies, and the latest one might involve the Yankees’ so-called torpedo bat. In the second game of the 2025 regular season, Yankees batters were seen using a bat with an unusual design. Unsurprisingly, it didn’t take long for the rumor mill to go into overdrive, speculating about the reasons behind the new bat and its potential impact. Now, MLB insider Jared Carrabis has issued a warning to the Yankees about the consequences of their newly designed bat.

So, what’s the issue with the bat? How is it different from conventional baseball bats?

“Wow, what a performance. Kind of a weird, crazy game,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Well, the game against the Brewers saw the Yankees steamroll Milwaukee with a record-setting offensive performance. A franchise-record nine home runs helped the Yankees thrash the Brewers 20-9 on Saturday. In the final innings, Aaron Judge hit three home runs and came within three feet of a fourth. The Yankees were just one run away from tying the MLB record of 10 home runs set by the Blue Jays. With such a dominant performance, it was only natural that every aspect of the game would be scrutinized. The conclusion? The Yankees’ controversial bat.

“If this is legal (which it sounds like it is?) Every team is going to start doing this until the home runs and offense become video game numbers league-wide and then it will be banned,” Carrabis wrote on his X account. 

Yes, the bats used by the Yankees in the game looked a bit different. The Yankees seem to have adjusted the bat’s barrel closer to the label, where their hitters often make contact. This new bat design, internally called the torpedo bat, is intended to increase barreled balls and reduce mis-hits. The Yankees reportedly conducted an internal investigation and found that hits for certain players were coming from the vicinity of the label rather than the bat’s barrel. Accordingly, they produced bats with extra wood in that location, which has helped batters who had shown that hit profile.

For the unversed, the Reds were fined $25,000 after Chris Sabo was ejected. He was given a seven-game suspension in a 1996 game for smashing a bat that was discovered to contain cork. Similarly, Cardinals slugger Ted Simmons was ruled out of a 1975 game for using a bat with grooves cut into the barrel. MLB has historically penalized bat tampering, so the question now is: Are the Yankees violating the rules?

Are the Yankees doing it legally as per MLB’s rule?

While it is not confirmed if the bat is the reason behind the Yankees scoring 20 runs or Judge hitting three homers, Carrabis said the bat used by the Yankees might be legal. According to MLB Rule 3.02, the bat must be a smooth, round stick that is no longer than 42 inches long and no thicker than 2.61 inches in diameter at its thickest point. Additionally, one piece of solid wood will be used for the bat. It is allowed to tap the bat’s end that is up to 1¼ inches deep, no wider than two inches, and no smaller than one inch in diameter. The indentation needs to be curved and free of any extraneous material. 

Moreover, rule 3.02 also offers a provision for “experimental” bats that cannot be used until MLB has given its consent. In the case of the Yankees, it’s questionable if the torpedo bat qualifies as experimental. If yes, then the team will face the breach. The Yankees will surely face consequences if the torpedo bats violate the rules in any manner. However, if not, then other teams will eventually start utilizing bats with comparable shapes. Considering how the Yankees steamrolled the Brewers, it will be irresistible for other teams not to come up with more effective bat designs. 

Nonetheless, let’s hope that with the continuous evolution of the bats, scoring a home run should not become video game-like hitting. The equality between a hitter and a pitcher should be maintained. 

Do you think the Yankees’ torpedo bat is legal? Let us know in the comments below.