What is a Torpedo Bat and can I get one in Canada?
The Rise of the Torpedo Bat
This season, MLB has witnessed a striking innovation in bat design—the Torpedo bat, also known as the bowling-pin bat. Unlike traditional bats, these shift more mass toward the hitter’s hands and sweet spot, giving a bulge in the middle and a sharper taper toward the barrel’s tip
History & Origins
Early custom bats: Experimental shapes aren’t new—19th-century players crafted flat, fat, or curved “banana” bats to suit individual preferences .
Modern revival: The current iteration was engineered by MIT physicist Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees analyst now with the Marlins. He extracted weight from the tip and concentrated it around the barrel’s sweet spot to maximize performance slugger.com+15tuccilimited.com+15fingerlakes1.com+15.
Historical evolution: Bat customizations—like Ruth’s thin handles or Shoeless Joe’s Black Betsy—changed baseball over the past 150 years. The torpedo bat continues that lineage justbats.com, espn.com, fingerlakes1.com.
MLB Adoption & Performance
- Yankees break out: In just three games with Torpedo bats, New York set a franchise record with 15 homers, nine in a single game—users included Bellinger, Chisholm, Volpe, Goldschmidt, and Wells wired.com+5espn.com+5fingerlakes1.com+5.
- League-wide interest: The trend is spreading—players on the Twins, Rays, Orioles, Braves, Reds, Astros, and even some international leagues are experimenting slugger.com+13foxbusiness.com+13fingerlakes1.com+13.
- Controversy & legality: While some call for bans (e.g. Dave Portnoy), MLB currently confirms that Torpedo bats comply with rules on diameter (<2.61″) and length (<42″) news.research.gatech.edu+15espn.com+15fingerlakes1.com+15.
Torpedo vs. Regular Bat
| Feature | Regular Bat | Torpedo Bat |
|---|---|---|
| Weight distribution | Gradual taper, heavier at end | Mass concentrated in mid-barrel |
| Swing weight | Heavier tip slows swing | Lower inertia = faster acceleration |
| Sweet spot size | Standard length sweet spot | Expanded optimized contact zone |
| Customization | Few adjustments possible | Tailored per hitter’s swing/contact habits |
Future Outlook
Growing customization: Teams might soon carry multiple Torpedo variants and choose bats based on pitchers, pitch types, or hit zones
Regulatory watch: MLB might tighten specs (e.g. limit diameter variance) but the shift could endure as more hitters seek edge .
Performance vs. Talent: Leanhardt reminds us: the bat only helps the player—ultimate success still depends on skill.
Can I get Torpedo Bats in Canada?
When you watch teams like the Blue Jays and you hear that even Pro Players are having trouble getting their hands on these bats, it is a little deceptive. Pro players who usually have their equipment custom made for them fall into this category. A quick search on Amazon.ca shows that there are many bat manufacturers stocking and shipping these bats right now. Amazon is a great choice as their shipping speed and reliability is unmatched.
