1 day Ago By Peter Chawaga
The New York Mets made the largest acquisition in franchise history this past winter when they stole away Juan Soto from the crosstown New York Yankees with a historic contract. But in the early days of the 2025 season, it looks as if the Mets might want to bring something else from the Bronx over to Queens as well. The Yankees have become the center of the baseball world thanks to their use of specially-designed “torpedo bats,” which utilize a bowling-pin shape to add more density to the part of the barrel where their hitters are making contact.
Whether the bats are making a significant difference or not, the Yankees have hit 15 home runs in the first three games to lead all Major League Baseball teams . With that early success, other hitters around MLB are considering the new bats. That includes Soto, who had the chance to try a torpedo bat last season with the Yankees but opted not to.
“I had teammates last year (with the Yankees) that asked me if I wanted to try it, but it never caught my attention,” Soto told the New York Post. “But, yeah, I would try it.” Soto might be able to put the newfound attention into practice, as teammate Francisco Lindor has been using one this season.
He could also borrow one from Pete Alonso, who is going to join in on the craze as well. “With certain bat modifications and stuff now, guys are doing whatever they can to catch up with the pitching, because pitching across the league is pretty darn good,” Alonso told the Post, adding that he is likely to place an order for a torpedo bat soon. Soto, who has been one of baseball’s best hitters throughout his career, hardly needs any new gimmick to increase his prowess at the plate.
But as he watches his former team dominate pitchers early into the new season, it seems that he is suddenly more convinced about the positives of a torpedo bat than he was when his ex-teammates asked him to try one out last year. More MLB: Red Sox make Rafael Devers decision amid historic opening slump.
