As the Yankees pummeled the Milwaukee Brewers 20-9 with a franchise-record nine home runs, most spectators witnessed pure offensive dominance. Behind the spectacular statistics, however, lurks a fascinating development that’s beginning to capture league-wide attention: a bat design innovation potentially amplifying the already formidable Yankees lineup.
The subject of growing curiosity across baseball circles is what players have dubbed the “torpedo” bat—a scientifically engineered model reportedly developed through collaboration between the Yankees’ analytics department and an MIT-educated physicist named Aaron Leanhardt, affectionately known around the clubhouse as “Lenny.”
These next-generation bats, characterized by their distinctive bulbous mid-barrel and narrowed, bowling pin-esque end, made notable appearances during Saturday’s historic offensive display. While exceptional hitting talent clearly drove the home run barrage, these unconventional bats may have transformed solid contact into extraordinary results.
What are the Yankees’ “torpedo” bats?
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YES Network commentator Michael Kay revealed during Saturday’s broadcast that the Yankees’ analytics team began developing these specialized bats after analyzing Anthony Volpe‘s contact patterns throughout 2024.
“They did a study on Anthony Volpe and every single ball, it seemed like, he hit on the label,” Kay explained on-air. “He didn’t hit any on the barrel, so they had bats made up where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat will actually strike the ball.”
Michael Kay explains that the Yankees made new bats "where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball."
The ingenious concept strategically redistributes the bat’s mass toward the contact zone. While the barrel appears oversized, it actually concentrates density in the hitting area by removing unnecessary wood from the tip. Though this altered shape challenges the traditional batting feel, the principle is straightforward: increase the probability that near-misses become hits and solid contact produces more powerful outcomes.
Meet Aaron Leanhardt, the brain behind the bat
Charles Wenzelberg / NYP
Former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith provided additional insight following Saturday’s performance, attributing the project to Leanhardt, a Yankees analyst with extensive physics expertise.
Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll. He invented the “Torpedo” barrel. It brings more wood – and mass – to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of “barrels” and decrease misses. pic.twitter.com/CsC1wkAM9G
“You’re going up with a weapon that can be better,” Smith recounted Lenny telling players. “Your just misses could be clips, your clips could be flares, and your flares could be barrels.”
In January 2024, the Yankees’ captain crossed paths with Aaron Leanhardt, a former MIT physicist who was tasked with a critical new responsibility for the Yankees: channeling analytical information directly to players as the team’s new major league analyst.
Known simply as “Lenny” throughout the Yankees organization, Leanhardt has been part of the organization since 2018, though a quick internet search would reveal more about his scientific endeavors than his baseball career. His promotion came at a pivotal moment in December 2023, following the Yankees’ disappointing 82-80 season.
Aaron Leanhardt represents what the Yankees hope will address a critical issue that surfaced late last season when their captain emphasized the need for more effective delivery of analytical data to players in accessible formats.
Whether Leanhardt’s approach will translate to more victories remains to be seen, but he’s already made a favorable impression on key figures within the organization.
His scientific background includes participation in groundbreaking research at MIT—a NASA-funded study where scientists, including Leanhardt (then pursuing his Ph.D. as a graduate student), successfully cooled sodium gas to record-breaking low temperatures.
As analytics gained prominence throughout baseball, Leanhardt began his coaching journey in 2017, working in New Jersey as an assistant in the Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League and in Montana as hitting coach and recruiting coordinator at Dawson Community College before joining the Yankees in 2018.
His Yankees tenure included serving as hitting coach across multiple lower-level affiliates, including their Dominican summer league team, before spending the past two seasons as the organization’s assistant minor league hitting coordinator. In 2025, he joined the Miami Marlins as their field coordinator.
Manager Boone noted that the Yankees conducted a thorough search process for the major league analyst position—previously held by Zac Fieroh, who continues with the organization in a different capacity—before selecting Leanhardt. In recent years, Leanhardt had already provided valuable insights to the coaching staff, Boone explained, but now officially joins that staff (though he won’t wear a uniform).
How Leanhardt transforms Yankees’ offense
Smith observed that most hitters utilize bats well below MLB’s maximum allowable specifications. When Leanhardt measured Smith’s bat against league regulations, the available room for optimization was remarkable.
“These bats feel a little lighter, there’s more weight closer to your hands so you can swing a heavier bat. It kind of feels like those old Wiffle ball bats you used as a kid—the barrel feels MASSIVE the first time you pick it up.”
Despite their unconventional appearance, these bats remain fully compliant with MLB regulations, which stipulate that bats must be:
Constructed from solid wood
No longer than 42 inches
No thicker than 2.61 inches at the barrel
Cup depth limited to 1 inch
Grip substances restricted to 18 inches from the knob
By all available evidence, the Yankees’ design operates within these parameters.
Yankees adopting the new weapon
YES
Several Yankees were observed using the redesigned bats during Saturday’s offensive eruption. Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. each connected for home runs while wielding the innovative model. Cody Bellinger, who has implemented the bats since spring training, shared his perspective with the New York Daily News:
“There are ways to move the weight of the bat. Some guys like top-heavy, some guys like hand-loaded bats. You just gotta find a bat that feels good, that kind of moves with you. I’m a believer in swinging different things.”
The Yankees crushed 12 balls with exit velocities exceeding 100 mph during the game. While it’s unclear exactly how many resulted from the “torpedo” bats, the outcomes were impressive: Chisholm finished 2-for-5 with a homer, Volpe went 1-for-4 with a homer and two walks, and Bellinger homered on just the second pitch he faced.
Tool or trend? Fans watching closely
As Smith emphasized, these bats “don’t turn average hitters into sluggers”—but for elite talent, even minimal advantages can prove decisive.
Smith explained that hitting home runs still requires properly squaring up a ball, but suggested these bats might provide players with additional force when they make solid contact.
Baseball has always been a game of marginal improvements. When mere centimeters on the barrel determine success or failure, these bats could subtly shift probabilities in the hitter’s favor.
That potential alone is sufficient to generate interest—and possibly concern—throughout the league.
Is this legal?
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According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the MLB has also given the bats a go-ahead. “Just to put this to bed, MLB says the new bats the Yankees are using are legal,” he wrote.
No evidence suggests any rule violations. The Yankees appear to be operating entirely within MLB’s bat guidelines. Nevertheless, the optics of sudden power surges, particularly when associated with redesigned bats, have prompted scrutiny from opposing fans and media.
Social media speculation intensified after the game, with fans questioning whether such bats should remain permitted. Unless MLB amends its regulations—or determines these bats enhance performance beyond the spirit of the rules—no restrictions appear imminent.
In fact, other teams may soon adopt similar approaches.
According to MLB Rule 3.02, bats must be “smooth, round sticks not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length.” On-field inspections confirm the Yankees’ bats meet these specifications.
The bigger picture
Whether coincidental timing or quiet revolution, the Yankees’ implementation of “torpedo” bats during a record-setting nine-homer performance demands attention. Supported by advanced analytics, physics principles, and precise engineering, this innovation potentially represents the next evolution of legal, technology-informed performance enhancement in Major League Baseball.
For now, it exists as a competitive advantage hiding in plain sight—with the entire league watching closely.
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