In the past few weeks, torpedo bats have taken the MLB baseball world by storm. Many traditionalists say that torpedo bats take away from the defensive game that baseball is supposed to be, while many new fans appreciate how they speed up the pace of the game and make it more entertaining.
Jack Menton, Pro:
Torpedo bats are an overblown issue and there is no reason for them to be considered controversial. Many are calling for them to be banned, but there is no reason. MLB rules only specify a maximum thickness of a bat, which even the torpedo bats do not exceed, as they only trim off excess weight from the tip.
Some think that they are only accessible to certain teams. Not true. Controversies first arose during the Yankees opening day game when they hit nine home runs against the Brewers, three which came off of the three first pitches of the game. It is common knowledge that the New York Yankees are one of the most hated teams in baseball. Their continued success across many eras has led many to associate anything giving them more success with cheating. Torpedo bats are just the latest in this craze of Yankee hate. This immediately brought the bats into controversial territory, with skeptics questioning the legality of such a move.
Realistically though, none of this matters because the Yankees aren’t the only ones allowed to use these bats. Other players on other teams can and have employed them, even before this season. Many teams have ordered the new bat type in response to the Yankees’ recent success, an obvious sign that the new bats don’t benefit any one team more than others. According to ESPN, even commissioner Rob Manfred has come out in defense of the new technology, saying that they “comply with the rules.”
New baseball fans want to see a more entertaining game, and torpedo bats help to deliver this, growing the game with new audiences. With the advent of torpedo bats, more home runs will inevitably be hit, bringing more offensive action to the sport. Having more home runs simply makes a more entertaining game to watch, and torpedo bats help reach this mark. This aligns with other recent decisions made by MLB to draw in new fans. The pitch clock was introduced in 2023 to help speed up games, forcing shorter breaks between pitches and reducing dead time. This was very successful, reducing game times by an average of 24 minutes. This helps to draw in younger fans to a league that is seeing its most popular demographic rise in age more and more. Torpedo bats bring what young baseball fans want to the sport, more home runs.
Chris Frekko, Con:
The torpedo bats are transforming the game of baseball into an offensive slugfest that will make the game unrecognizable in the future. Nostalgic fans do not like the new bats because they feel that they are changing the game in a negative way.
Torpedo bats increase exit velocity and bat speed, which was proven when the New York Yankees hit nine home runs in the opening series of the 2025 season. Trevor Megill, the closer for the Milwaukee Brewers, says “the bats are terrible and are something used in slow pitch softball.” I completely agree with Megill and believe MLB should not allow the bat change simply to increase offense and generate more media coverage of the league.
It makes it even more insulting to fans that MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, likes the bats. He is a Traditionalist baseball fan’s biggest nightmare now that he has added the California Rule (if a game goes into extra innings, the batting team starts with a man on second every inning), a pitch clock, and now torpedo bats. I say to Mr. Manfred, if you allow torpedo bats in the game of baseball, then you may as well allow Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, and Manny Ramirez into the hall of fame. Torpedo bats are the equivalent of performance enhancing drugs — batters are being provided an unfair advantage that enables them to hit the ball harder and farther.
The bats also just look weird. They have a strange hump closer to the handle; it doesn’t look normal. Baseball is ruining itself. The game is supposed to be a rustic sport rooted in tradition. There is a reason why it is called America’s pastime. I’m reminded of the old adage, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” MLB is just money hungry and does not not care about the integrity of the game. Allowing torpedo bats proves that MLB simply wants more eyeballs and advertising revenue, and is willing to sacrifice all that is pure and holy about our national pastime to improve the financial bottom line.
Controversy around torpedo bats is sure to remain at least until MLB takes a clear stance on the issue. Until then, it is up to teams, players, and fans to decide whether they believe the bats should or should not be used.
