Torpedo Bats Could Bring Power Shift to the Marlins

By Edward Delgado

A new kind of bat is taking Major League Baseball by storm, and with its inventor now in Miami, the Marlins may be next in line to swing for power.

The New York Yankees debuted the "torpedo bat" last weekend. In a three-game series, they hit 15 home runs, 9 in one game, breaking both Yankees and MLB records for most home runs hit in a game. The bat’s unusual design, with its widest point closer to where a hitter makes contact, has drawn national attention for its impact on offense and its break from tradition.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed the buzz following the power surge, saying the bats are simply about “being the best,” and emphasizing that they comply with all MLB regulations.

Yankees Centerfielder and former Miami Marlin Jazz Chisholm Jr. was one of the players who started this season with a torpedo bat. MLB/Bryan Hoch 

The bat's creator, Aaron Leanhardt,  is now a field coordinator for the Miami Marlins. Leanhardt was a previous analyst for the New York Yankees, who used his physics background to help create a bat that better serves where players hit, transferring energy and getting better returns on the plate. With Miami ranking near the bottom of the league in home runs, Leanhardt’s presence could signal a shift in strategy. The Marlins haven’t made any official moves toward adopting the bats, but with Leanhardt on staff and the bats gaining league-wide interest, change may be coming.

“We’re just trying to take what we know about physics and apply it in a way that helps hitters make better contact,” Leanhardt told MLB.com. “It’s not about breaking the game—it’s about understanding it better.”

Marlins Field Coordinator and inventor of the Torpedo Bats, Aaron Leanhardt, answers questions about his invention. MLB/Christina De Nicole

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred publicly supported the bats, calling them “absolutely good” for the game and a legal innovation. Whether the Marlins are the next team to adopt the torpedo bat remains to be seen, but if the early results in New York are any indication, it might only be a matter of time.

Sources: 

Browne, Ian. “Physicist-Turned-Coach Leanhardt Talks Origins of ‘Torpedo’ Bat.” MLB.com, 6 Apr. 2025, https://www.mlb.com/news/aaron-leanhardt-discusses-invention-of-torpedo-bats.

Hoch, Bryan. “Yanks’ ‘Torpedo’ Bats Making a Big Impact.” MLB.com, 6 Apr. 2025, https://www.mlb.com/news/yankees-discuss-new-torpedo-bats.

Passan, Jeff. “Rob Manfred: Torpedo Bats ‘Absolutely Good’ for MLB.” ESPN.com, 6 Apr. 2025, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44557313/rob-manfred-praises-torpedo-bats-absolutely-good-mlb.

Rogers, Jesse. “MLB 2025: Yankees’ ‘Torpedo’ Bats Taking Over the League.” ESPN.com, 4 Apr. 2025, https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/44477141/mlb-2025-torpedo-bowling-pin-bats-new-york-yankees-taking-baseball.