**Yankees Set Franchise Record with Torpedo Bats in 20-9 Victory Over Brewers**
The New York Yankees triumphed over the Milwaukee Brewers with a score of 20-9 on Saturday, achieving a franchise-record nine home runs during the game. The YES broadcast highlighted that some Yankees players utilized innovative torpedo bats, which have a unique design that shifts the barrel closer to the handle, creating a bowling pin shape.
### What Are Torpedo Bats?
– **Design**: The barrel of the torpedo bat is positioned nearer to the handle, allowing players to make contact with the ball more effectively on the label rather than the traditional barrel.
– **Functionality**: This design aims to increase the number of “barrels” (solid hits) and reduce misses by concentrating mass in the area where hitters most often make contact.
### Player Reactions
Brewers relief pitcher Trevor Megill expressed skepticism about the bats, stating, “I think it’s terrible… It might be bush [league]. It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide.”
Kevin Smith, a former Yankees player, praised the bat’s inventor, Aaron Leanhardt, calling him a “literal genius MIT Physicist.” Smith explained that the torpedo barrel design enhances contact and power.
### Background on Aaron Leanhardt
– **Education**: Leanhardt holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in physics from MIT.
– **Career**: He joined the Yankees in 2018 after coaching in the Atlantic League and has since moved on to become a field coordinator for the Miami Marlins.
### Current Usage
Despite Leanhardt’s departure from the Yankees, four regular starters, including Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Anthony Volpe, continue to use the torpedo bat, while Giancarlo Stanton does not.
**Conclusion**: With the Yankees’ recent offensive explosion, the torpedo bat has sparked significant discussion among players and fans alike. Could this innovative design change the future of hitting in baseball?
### FAQs:
**What is a torpedo bat?**
A torpedo bat features a barrel positioned closer to the handle, allowing for better contact and increased power when hitting the ball.
