MLB responds to claims Yankees used ‘illegal’ bats in historic blowout win over Brewers

By ALEX RASKIN

The New York Yankees showed off their new ‘torpedo’ bats in the Bronx on Saturday by hitting a team-record nine home runs in a 20-9 rout of the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.

Aaron Judge combined with Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger to go deep on the first three pitches from former Yankees teammate Nestor Cortes, then hit two more homers, including a grand slam, to finish with eight RBIs for the game.

But for all the chatter about the Bronx Bombers’ power surge, it was their new-look bats that caught the attention of fans, many of whom questioned the legality of the lumber.

As Yankees announcer Michael Kay explained on YES, the ‘Torpedo’ bats have more wood around the label area of the bat, as opposed to the barrel.

‘The Yankee front office, the analytics department, did a study on [shortstop] Anthony Volpe and every single ball, it seemed like, he hit on the label,’ Kay said. ‘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.’

Outside of Volpe and Jazz Chisholm, it’s not entirely known which of the Yankees are using the Torpedo bats. However, an MLB spokesman has made one thing clear: They’re legal.

Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees hits a solo home run with a Torpedo bat in the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium 

Jazz Chisholm is seen holding one of the Yankees’ new Torpedo bats on Saturday in the Bronx

Not only was The Athletic told by the commissioner’s office that the bats were kosher, but MLB Rule 3.02 also clears up any confusion on the issue.

‘The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length,’ the rulebook reads. ‘The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.’

And we know these models meet those standards because any new bat designs need to be approved by MLB, as was the case with the Torpedos.

Of course, some angry fans don’t want to hear this.

‘Yankees new bats are illegal,’ wrote one. ‘Brewers should protest and submit to MLB.’

‘The Yankees are literally using illegal bats two days into the regular season,’ another added.

Not only are the bats legal, but they’re designed by a top-level physicist.

According to former Yankees infielder Kevin Smith, they’re the brainchild of Aaron Leanhardt, an MIT grad and Michigan physics professor.

‘Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll,’ Smith wrote online. ‘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.’

Leanhardt already has one important convert in Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

‘Intelligence, work ethic, he’s connected well, started to forge relationships, and he’s done a good job with all of it,’ Boone told The Athletic at Spring Training last month in Tampa.

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MLB responds to claims Yankees used ‘illegal’ bats in historic blowout win over Brewers

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