Is MLB Banning Torpedo Bats? Executive Hints at Grim Future for Controversial Gear amid Rising Notoriety

While the MLB regular season would have been all about upset wins, unexpected comebacks, and the fans enjoying a mug of beer, this year, a mass of wood took all the limelight. Yes, in the name of Torpedo, the Yankees introduced a new bat that made the entire MLB circuit talk. Well, it seems like the Yankees hammering the Brewers over their first 3 games was not enough. The MLB community is scrambling to witness more teams flaunt the new bat. What’s next? A rain of home runs all over the park. Well, a few sources think otherwise. A rumor of torpedo bats getting banned is also gaining traction. Why so?

What’s the issue with baseball’s new performance enhancer? “It seems like it’s making its way around MLB,” the Angels’ shortstop, Nicky Lopez, said. Therein lies the problem.

Something between regulations and loopholes

According to MLB regulations, bats must be round, smooth, and no larger than 2.61 inches in diameter or 42 inches in length. Therefore, the Yankees’ Torpedo bats’ wood is legal. However, the fever is fast catching on. Reportedly, several teams, such as the Red Sox and Cubs, used the bats during spring training before returning to the standard bats for the start of the regular season. Other teams already have players like Ryan Jeffers of the Twins and Junior Caminero of the Rays, who did bring the torpedo bats with them after spring training. So, fans can witness more extensive use of torpedo bats on the field in the coming days.

“I think they’ll be banned,” one front-office source told CBS Sports. “I think MLB will be compelled to establish a rule to prevent them from getting out of hand, and I think the interests of fairness will direct that rule to be something that more or less bans the torpedo design.” While the torpedo bat is within the MLB rule, the overuse can be detrimental to the batters only. Why? Because the torpedo bats got more mass near the label and hence, it might affect the exit velocity of the batters in the long run. Moreover, the redistributed weight in the new bat could also turn the sport in more favor of the batters.

With the game getting inclined more toward the batters, a more jammed plate will be witnessed. All credit to the higher margin of error on inside pitches with the added mass on the bat center. With more players joining the bandwagon in the hope of better hitting abilities, the pitchers are waiting to get hammered every time they come to the mound. “Another incentive for pitchers to not throw strikes,” an anonymous insider said to CBS Sports.

2025 will see a different ball of the game with Torpedo bats

Remember the 1996 corked bat controversy or the prime tar bat incident? In both cases, the ban was imposed on an urgent basis as the bats were outlawed. In fact, in the corked bat incident, Chris Sabo was suspended for 7 games, lost $70,000 in salary, and to top it all, his team Cincinnati Reds, were fined $25,000! Unlawful actions have repercussions. However, in the case of torpedo bats, nothing goes beyond the law, and it is deemed perfectly legal. So, it is here to stay. Until the rules are changed, the bat is here to be used in the game. That being said, nothing about this torpedo bat should be too concerning.

Baseball is ever-evolving, and let’s consider this as an essential component. Before deciding on the best course of action, the league and its teams will surely spend the next few weeks to months collecting data. While it garnered enough interest among the players, there are names like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto who are yet to be on the same page.

“Last year (with the Yankees), I had teammates who asked me if I wanted to try it, but it never caught my attention,” Soto said. “But yes, I would try it.”

The Yankees scored 36 runs over their first three games. Something unbelievable but irresistible for other teams. The hapless pitchers of the Brewers against the Yankees teased what was waiting in the coming time. For now, the new concept is here to stay, and a few frequent homers might be a common sight for the fans this year.

It’s debatable how much of a real benefit these torpedo bats provide. However, the true benefit of torpedo bats over a more common piece of lumber will only be known with time, scientific testing, and a significantly bigger sample of data.

Let’s hope that baseball will remain an equal competition between the hitters and pitchers. The next few months will answer if the torpedo bats are making any difference or not.

Do you agree that torpedo bats should be banned? Let us know in the comments below.