Rivals eye Yankees’ ‘Torpedo’, but Judge’s quiet swing tweak may hit hardest of all

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The baseball world is fixated on the viral phenomenon sweeping through the Yankees’ clubhouse — the now-famous “lumbar torpedo” bats. However, it’s Aaron Judge’s new dominance that continues to speak volumes and emerging as the real threat for rivals.

Yes, the uniquely engineered bats — with their torpedo-like design and a redistributed sweet spot — have sparked curiosity, skepticism, and social media buzz in equal measure. But as Spring fades and the season begins in earnest, the real headline isn’t about the equipment. It’s about the man wielding it with surgical precision — or, in Judge’s case, sometimes not even needing to swing at all.

While his teammates experiment with new-age lumber that’s legal according to MLB officials, Aaron Judge is writing his own story — one that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or novelty. His bat speaks louder than any design innovation, and through the Yankees’ first three games of the 2025 season, it’s shouting MVP-caliber dominance.

The torpedo talk grabs all the focus

The “lumbar torpedo” bats, shaped to resemble short, thick missiles, have become the talk of Spring Training and Opening Week. Custom-designed to bring the sweet spot closer to a hitter’s natural point of contact, the bats are meant to optimize launch angles and barrel accuracy — a perfect fusion of biomechanics and analytics.

Clips of the bats surfaced online over the weekend, igniting heated conversations about their legality and impact. MLB quickly weighed in: the bats are legal, so long as they meet league specifications on dimensions and material.

Some players, including Paul Goldschmidt and Jazz Chisholm Jr., have reportedly taken a liking to the bat’s feel and results. And it’s hard to argue with results — the Yankees opened their season by sweeping the reigning NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers, outscoring them 36-14 and launching 15 home runs, tying the MLB record for most homers in a team’s first three games.

But amid all the flash and flair, it’s Judge who has commanded the most respect — and fear — from opponents.

Judge’s subtle message: No gimmicks needed

Just a year ago, Judge’s first month was forgettable. He managed only four home runs over his first 25 games, and by May 2, his OPS sat at a pedestrian .725. He finished strong, of course — 58 homers, 144 RBIs, and a .322 batting average en route to a second AL MVP title.

Still, the memory of that slow start lingered in his mind this spring.

“I wanted to have a better March and April than I did last season,” Judge said. “I did some stuff throughout spring training, but I think the biggest thing is this offense. Every time I walk up there, there’s guys on base, there’s traffic. The at-bats in front of me, even if it’s an out, are seven, eight, nine pitches. That makes my job a little easier.”

That attention to detail — the mental edge — is what sets Judge apart. And the results are already bearing fruit.

Through three games, Judge is slashing .454 with four home runs, 11 RBIs, three walks, and just two strikeouts. He became the first Yankee in franchise history — and only the 13th player in MLB history — to hit at least four home runs in his team’s first three games of a season, per Baseball Reference.

His 113-mph blast on Sunday left no doubt, and neither did the subsequent three walks, one of which was intentional. The Brewers had seen enough.

A quiet warning to the league

When asked about being pitched around, Judge offered a measured response.

“I try not to think about it,” he said. “In those situations, I lock down where I want to see a pitch and where I want to drive something. It’s out of my hands. My job is to compete against the pitcher and try to drive somebody in or get on base. I can’t worry if someone is pitching around me.”

But his impact goes beyond what he says — or even what he swings at.

After launching a no-doubt home run in the first inning on Sunday, Judge drew three consecutive walks. Each time, the Brewers opted to pitch around him. That strategy backfired immediately when Jazz Chisholm Jr. followed one of those walks with a two-run homer of his own.

Judge’s presence alone is forcing opposing managers into uncomfortable decisions — and that is perhaps the biggest Yankees threat of all.

Boone: ‘No ceiling’ for Judge

“You never know,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said when asked about Judge’s start. “With Aaron, I never put a ceiling on what he can do. It’s good to see him have a really great first series.”

Boone, who managed Judge through his record-breaking 62-home-run campaign in 2022, knows better than to underestimate the captain’s trajectory.

“People asked after ’22, ‘How could he top that?’ And he did in ’24.”

And with Cody Bellinger now in pinstripes, the offensive pressure isn’t solely on Judge’s shoulders. The addition of Bellinger — along with Chisholm and the resurgence of Austin Wells, has created a more balanced lineup, giving Judge consistent traffic ahead of him and protection behind him.

Setting the tone early

The Yankees’ 3-0 start marks just the fourth time in the last 30 years that the club has opened the season with three straight wins. The last time they did it was — perhaps ominously — just last year.

“It’s just three games,” Boone cautioned. “But you take wins when you can get them because those don’t come off the board.”

Still, sweeping the Brewers, a 92-win team from 2024, isn’t nothing. The Yankees mashed 15 home runs and tallied 36 runs in just three games — tying a major-league record and showcasing the depth of their new-look offense.

“A sweep going into an off day is always a treat,” Boone said, grinning.

What comes next?

The Yankees now turn their attention to the Arizona Diamondbacks, another 2024 playoff team, and a legitimate test for the red-hot Bronx Bombers.

For Judge, the mission is simple — keep building.

“I just want to stay consistent and be there for the team,” he said.

That consistency, paired with the power and discipline he’s displayed to start the season, might just be the most dangerous thing in baseball. While the league obsesses over experimental bats and new trends, Judge is sending a quiet — but unmistakable — message.

No gimmicks. No noise. Just dominance.

What do you think?

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