The former president of Miami Marlins, Dave Samson, discusses the referees of the robots and the controversy on the “Torpedo” bats on “Varney & Co.”
As another Sports have adapted For technological progress, popular changes and culture, baseball has been a pillar of tradition-including bats used by bats.
But in 2025, they took a new form, literally – welcome to the “torpedo” mania.
Baseball bats have been largely unchanged throughout the history of sport. Wood has gone from maple to maple, but the shape was the same. The thickest part of the bat, which, according to the baseball rules of the major league, is 2.61 inches, has always been at the end of the barrel. But the Torpille bat changes that. The thickest part of the bat moves slightly in the middle, giving the bat a form of pin.
Paul Goldschmidt from New York Wield Yankees A Torpille bat at Yankee Stadium in New York. (Mike Stobe / Getty images)
The point of that? It’s all about Sweet Spot.
“It is all these scientists of the data that studied where the balls struck bats for our players in the major leagues,” said Kurt Ainsworth, a former major fever who co-founded Maruucci Sports and is his CEO. “And they said, you do not use the 3 to 4 inch of the last of the bat. You are not successful. So why not take part of this mass and move it in the striking area and develop this striking area? It makes all its meaning in the world.“”
Marucci is one of Official MLB bats, With Victus (Marucci bought Victus in 2017). Together, they provide bats to the majority of MLB players. These include Francisco Lindor, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Freddie Freeman – some of the best strikers in the League. After the New York Yankees had 13 circuits in two games during the opening weekend, with many of their players using Torpille style bats, the requests were flooded.
Francisco Lindor of New York Bats Mets against athletics at Sutter Health Park on April 13, 2025 in Sacramento, California. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)
“We have about 55% of players in the major league using our bats right now. And I would say that around half of them called for last week to ask for a model of torpedo of their bat,” said Ainsworth. “So, I think you will see us go from around 8% to 10% torpedoes, then potentially 50% of our players using torpedoes.”
The technology is not new – Lindor used the bat last season for very little fanfare. But after the Yankees’ Run Run dam and the Cincinnati Reds Elly de la Cruz star using the bat for the first time and having seven points produced the next day, all the gossip spoke of Torpille bats.
“Now that you see that the Yankees have had this success, whether it is a placebo effect or not, or now you are looking at the data saying:” Whoa, my Sweet Spot Grossait. My strike area becomes larger, I may try “,” said Ainsworth.
But the torpedo bat is not for everyone – some players tend to hit the ball closer to the end of the barrel. Marucci therefore invites players to come to Batting Performance Lab (BPL) at Baton Rouge to connect to Motion capture technology And analyze their swing, to the millimeter.
“We will essentially examine what they are swinging at the moment, we will essentially go just as far as possible in terms of balance and weight, then we will do the opposite,” said Micah Gibbs, director of BPL. “(We are going to) start to understand how the body changes when these things happen and just somehow from there, optimize the point of contact on the bat, all these things, and essentially try to build in the best possible bat.”
And build it. The Marcucci wood bat operation is entirely American. The wood comes from two factories in Appalachia and sent to Baton Rouge. Once there, the bat will pass through nearly two dozen handicrafts before it is shipped to MLB Ballparks. Major leaguers can expect to have a personalized bat in their hands in about a week.
Marucci beats in the canoe of Tampa Bay Rays during the match against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. (Tim Heitman / Getty Images)
Brett Laxton, the master craftsman of the company, spent two years in major leagues and called himself a traditionalist. But even he cannot deny torpedoes technology.
“I was certainly struck the torpedo bat these days because I would like more barrel flying in the air. Above all, the way launchers launch these days, going to 100 mph, curve is 95,” said Laxton. “It’s like, give yourself a better chance.”
Baseball purists make fun of the new bat, questioning the legality of that like this.
“There will always be people who are anti-what is new technology, whatever the sport,” said Gibbs. “We are always trying to optimize performance and some people will not like it, and that’s good. But I think that’s what makes it fun.”
While the wooden bat makes the headlines, most Marucci’s income comes from youth sports. Namely, bats for young people, which are mainly made from metallic or composite materials.
Is a bat in Torpille the next logical step? Yes, but not at the level you might think.
“It’s really difficult when you arrive at children because they need the whole bat. They are not used to hitting the Sweet Spot every time, but when you get these young first-rate players, you may be able to move it a little and get there,” said Ainsworth. But, he adds: “I think you will see us throwing a metal torpedo bat. We have been working on it for more than six months in our laboratory here.”
A potential problem with bats for young people? Prices. While the operation of Marucci bats is entirely made to Americans, metal bats and all its equipment, which includes gloves, shoes and clothing, is made abroad. And it’s not just a Maruucci problem – almost all sports Business manufacturing their goods abroad. Marucci seeks to pivot part of his operations in the United States
Bold predictions for the MLB 2025 season: could the two New York teams miss the playoffs?
“We have spent … More than 50 years in American construction factories abroad. So they have been doing it for a long time,” said Ainsworth. “Their factories are first-class. They make excellent products there. So I think that for us, it will just take a little time for the learning curve to get up to date. And then, of course, things are more expensive here. The work costs a little more here.
Kurt Ainsworth, San Francisco giants, throws against Los Angeles dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 20, 2003, in Los Angeles. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images / Getty Images)
Although it is still largely unknown who will pay for prices, Ainsworth does not want to see the burden granted to consumers.
“We want to make sure that children play the game and that it is the last thing we want to do is that children do not play,” said Ainsworth. “We don’t want to assess the market.”
But at the moment, it is the bats of Torpille who have people who speak. While more bats are making their way in club clubs, time will tell us if it is simply a fashion or if it is there to stay. Gibbs says that any difference, whatever the small size, will be sufficient to remain relevant.
Get Fox Affairs on the move by clicking here
“We are talking about quite small margins, I would say, especially at the MLB level,” he said. “But for these guys, that’s all. Like an additional bullet and one more square ball could make the difference in this guy who has a year of career and just his normal year.”
Ainsworth thinks that is there to stay. He says he sees the future of bats as being a bit like golf clubs – You have another club in your bag for each situation.
“I think you will see that it will not become a fashion,” said Ainsworth. “I think you will see this stay for a while, and it will continue to evolve, and they will be perfect bats for each player.”
