MLB Commissioner embraces 'Torpedo' bats as Baseball's future
Alona Yadav | Apr 07, 2025, 21:49 IST
MLB Commissioner Embraces 'Torpedo' Bats as Baseball's Future
( Image credit : AP )
MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred supports the controversial "torpedo" bats, citing their compliance with rules and sparking cultural debate. He also anticipates automated strike zones potentially debuting in 2026, following successful minor league trials of the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. While umpires might prefer full automation, players favor the challenge system, balancing technology with the human element.
In a sport where tradition often clashes with innovation, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred has taken a definitive stance on one of this season's most talked-about developments. The controversial "torpedo" bats currently making waves across the league are "absolutely good for baseball," Manfred declared in a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times.
"I believe that issues like the 'torpedo' bat and the debate around it demonstrate the fact that baseball still occupies a unique place in our culture because people get into a complete frenzy over something that's really nothing at the end of the day," Manfred explained, addressing the heated discussions surrounding this equipment innovation.
The distinctive "torpedo" bat—sometimes called the "bowling pin" bat for its unique shape—has captured both attention and controversy after the New York Yankees launched 18 home runs in their first four games of the season, establishing a new MLB record. The design represents a significant departure from traditional bat shapes, moving wood from the end of the bat to the area where players most frequently make contact with the ball. This redesign effectively customizes the sweet spot for each individual player's swing pattern.
This innovative approach originated with Miami Marlins field coordinator and MIT-trained physicist Aaron "Lenny" Leanhardt, who developed the concept during his time with the Yankees organization. While some baseball enthusiasts have wondered why this seemingly obvious modification wasn't implemented years ago, others have criticized it as verging on unfair advantage. The league has officially confirmed the bats' legality, with players across multiple teams now adopting them in regular season play.
"The bats comply with the rules," Manfred affirmed. "Players have actually been moving the sweet spot around in bats for years. But it just demonstrates that something about the game is more important than is captured by television ratings or revenue or any of those things, when you have the discussions and debates about it."
Looking beyond equipment innovations, Manfred also addressed the potential introduction of "robot umpires" to the major leagues, suggesting they could debut as soon as the 2026 season.
The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, which has been undergoing trials in the minor leagues since last year, was tested during this year's spring training. A notable demonstration of the technology's potential occurred during a preseason game between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox involving Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Under the ABS system, the home plate umpire still makes the initial ball and strike calls, but teams can challenge questionable calls, triggering a review of the pitch location using Hawk-Eye technology. While the system remains active in minor league games this season, pitches at the major league level currently cannot be reviewed.
"I think that the experiment was really successful," Manfred told the Times. "I think the owners made a good choice by going with the challenge system first, and I hope that we bring it to the big leagues in short order. It won't be in 2025. It'd be in 2026."
Interestingly, Manfred suggested that some umpires might actually prefer a fully automated system over the challenge format. "The problem with the challenge system is it points out when you're wrong. And I think nobody likes to be shown, in front of 48,000 people, they just missed the pitch," he noted.
Despite this, player sentiment appears to favor the challenge system over full automation. This middle-ground approach maintains the traditional human element of baseball while providing a technological safety net for particularly consequential calls.
"It keeps the human element in the game, it preserves a part of the game," Manfred said. "Framing has always been part of a game... But it at least gives you the chance, if you play your challenges right, to correct a mistake that could cost you a game."
As baseball continues to evolve in the face of technological advancement, these developments suggest that America's pastime is embracing innovation while striving to preserve the elements that have made it a cultural cornerstone for generations.
"I believe that issues like the 'torpedo' bat and the debate around it demonstrate the fact that baseball still occupies a unique place in our culture because people get into a complete frenzy over something that's really nothing at the end of the day," Manfred explained, addressing the heated discussions surrounding this equipment innovation.
The distinctive "torpedo" bat—sometimes called the "bowling pin" bat for its unique shape—has captured both attention and controversy after the New York Yankees launched 18 home runs in their first four games of the season, establishing a new MLB record. The design represents a significant departure from traditional bat shapes, moving wood from the end of the bat to the area where players most frequently make contact with the ball. This redesign effectively customizes the sweet spot for each individual player's swing pattern.
This innovative approach originated with Miami Marlins field coordinator and MIT-trained physicist Aaron "Lenny" Leanhardt, who developed the concept during his time with the Yankees organization. While some baseball enthusiasts have wondered why this seemingly obvious modification wasn't implemented years ago, others have criticized it as verging on unfair advantage. The league has officially confirmed the bats' legality, with players across multiple teams now adopting them in regular season play.
"The bats comply with the rules," Manfred affirmed. "Players have actually been moving the sweet spot around in bats for years. But it just demonstrates that something about the game is more important than is captured by television ratings or revenue or any of those things, when you have the discussions and debates about it."
Automated Strike Zones on the Horizon
The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, which has been undergoing trials in the minor leagues since last year, was tested during this year's spring training. A notable demonstration of the technology's potential occurred during a preseason game between the Yankees and Boston Red Sox involving Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Under the ABS system, the home plate umpire still makes the initial ball and strike calls, but teams can challenge questionable calls, triggering a review of the pitch location using Hawk-Eye technology. While the system remains active in minor league games this season, pitches at the major league level currently cannot be reviewed.
"I think that the experiment was really successful," Manfred told the Times. "I think the owners made a good choice by going with the challenge system first, and I hope that we bring it to the big leagues in short order. It won't be in 2025. It'd be in 2026."
Interestingly, Manfred suggested that some umpires might actually prefer a fully automated system over the challenge format. "The problem with the challenge system is it points out when you're wrong. And I think nobody likes to be shown, in front of 48,000 people, they just missed the pitch," he noted.
Despite this, player sentiment appears to favor the challenge system over full automation. This middle-ground approach maintains the traditional human element of baseball while providing a technological safety net for particularly consequential calls.
"It keeps the human element in the game, it preserves a part of the game," Manfred said. "Framing has always been part of a game... But it at least gives you the chance, if you play your challenges right, to correct a mistake that could cost you a game."
As baseball continues to evolve in the face of technological advancement, these developments suggest that America's pastime is embracing innovation while striving to preserve the elements that have made it a cultural cornerstone for generations.