Latest news with #Marucci
New York Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
MLB's Home Run Derby showcases the once-viral torpedo bats — but has their moment passed?
ATLANTA — On April 1, Alex Bregman posted his latest order to an Instagram story. The post featured a natural wood Marucci torpedo bat. Bregman added his initials and number — 'AB2' — along with a rocket ship emoji. At a time when the Yankees were crushing home runs and bat companies were backlogged with orders, Boston's star third baseman was among a wave of players who rushed to get their hands on a bat some theorized could take over the game. Advertisement A few months later, the torpedo bats were again on center stage at Monday's Home Run Derby, where Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh hoisted a trophy with help from the bulblike bats that have weight and wood redistributed toward the barrel. In reality, though, the torpedo bat was again on an outsized stage. Rather than taking over the league, torpedo bats seem to have quickly settled in with past hitting fads like puck knobs and axe handles — popular among certain players but not for everyone. 'I tried it one time,' Bregman said. 'It felt too heavy for me. I haven't even seen it since the day I got it. I was like, 'No, not for me.'' Alex Bregman showing off his new torpedo bat — Andrew Parker (@ByAndrewParker) April 1, 2025 Raleigh, who came only one home run shy of tying Barry Bonds' record for most home runs at the All-Star Break (38), is the most notable player using a torpedo bat at All-Star Week. He is a switch-hitter who uses different variations of the torpedo bat from both the right and left sides. The right-handed models have the weight distributed toward the end. The left-handed bat is more balanced and features a more pronounced torpedo shape. The original goal of the torpedo bats was to redistribute lumber from the end of the bat closer toward the barrel. This creates a bigger sweet spot and can alter how the bat feels in a hitter's hands. 'I picked it up, started using it, and it worked,' Raleigh said. 'As a baseball player, it's kind of like that sometimes.' Monday night, Raleigh used a wood-colored Victus from the left side and swung a custom-painted bat featuring his Big Dumper nickname from the right. Just ran into the guy from Rawlings on his way to drop off Cal Raleigh's special Big Dumper HR Derby bats at the ballpark. How cool are these! — Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 13, 2025 Interestingly, though, Raleigh was the only player in Monday's Home Run Derby swinging the bat that once seemed bound for mainstream use. Derby contestants Jazz Chisholm Jr., Brent Rooker, Oneil Cruz and runner-up Junior Caminero are among players who have experimented with torpedo bats this season. Advertisement But in many cases, the bats have not become mainstays in the hands of hitters. Chisholm was among the players who garnered acclaim with the tapered lumber early in the season. He hit three home runs in the Yankees' bashfest series against the Milwaukee Brewers that propelled the bats to the forefront of national conversation. Teammates such as Anthony Volpe have used the bats into the summer. But a few weeks after that Brewers series, Chisholm did away with the torpedo. 'It just didn't work for me,' Chisholm said. 'I feel like I'm a guy who has quick hands, so I don't really catch the ball as deep as everybody else. I hit it off the end of my bat, so if the end of my bat is nothing, I'm not gonna hit the ball as well.' New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso — a two-time Home Run Derby Champion who did not participate in the event this year — has for years used a Dove Tail Bats model that features an axe-like ProXR handle. Dove Tail Bats was a pioneer in manufacturing bats designed with a similar concept — different lumber distribution and a larger sweet spot — though they are less extreme than the torpedo bats we see today. In early April, Alonso ordered a batch of true torpedo bats. They never saw game action. 'I picked it up and it just felt awful,' Alonso said. 'To me, it was probably the worst-feeling bat I've ever picked up. So I'm like, 'You know what? I tried it. I overturned that stone.' Just nothing came of it for me. Some people can pick them up and they feel it and they love it. For me, it doesn't do it. And that's OK.' Other players in the league have had similar experiences. Rather than become entranced by the allure of the torpedo bats, they were perturbed by the different feel. 'I wasn't a fan,' said James Wood, a Washington Nationals outfielder who also participated in the Home Run Derby. 'They felt heavy, and I like what I have.' Advertisement To most players, bats remain a personal thing. Even as teams and bat companies conduct deeper analysis to determine how they can design bats to benefit players, sometimes hitters simply like what they know. Bregman has used the same Marucci model since the minor leagues. Tigers outfielder Riley Greene, who has 24 home runs this season, swings a traditional Victus model and never had any interest in trying a torpedo bat. 'At least for me, I don't think it would change much,' Greene said. 'You still have to hit the ball, and you still have to hit the ball on the barrel.' Raleigh leads the major leagues in home runs so far this season. But Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are close behind, and neither player has needed to wield a torpedo bat to wreak havoc on opposing pitchers. 'It's all about feel and production,' Alonso said. 'If you don't have the right feel, you're not gonna produce.' If feel is what matters most, then perhaps it should be no surprise torpedo bats remain in favor for players like Raleigh. And for hitters like Bregman, Alonso and many more, the old bats are still working just fine. (Photo of Cal Raleigh at Home Run Derby: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Erie police officer, police dog escape serious injury in May 31 crash on city's east side
An Erie Bureau of Police officer and his K-9 partner escaped serious injury but their vehicle was heavily damaged when police said an unlicensed driver crashed into them on Erie's east side on May 31. According to Police Chief Dan Spizarny, the officer and his canine partner were traveling south on Parade Street on May 31 when another vehicle struck them. The other vehicle, which police said was driven by a 24-year-old woman, was making a left turn when she crashed into the Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle at about 9:50 p.m. May 31, Deputy Chief William Marucci said. The impact caused all of the police vehicle's airbags to deploy, police reported. The officer and the dog were shaken up but not seriously injured, according to Spizarny and Marucci. The driver of the other vehicle was found to be driving without a license and was taken for chemical testing, Spizarny and Marucci said. Erie police on June 2 were still awaiting word on whether the Chevolet Tahoe was totaled in the crash, Marucci said. No charges had been filed in the crash as of June 2. The K-9 officer, his dog and the Chevrolet Tahoe have been working patrol shifts in Erie for about a month. Erie police obtained the dog and two other Belgian Malinois police dogs, along with patrol vehicles and other associated equipment, through state grant funding. The dogs and their handlers underwent training in Ohio before hitting the streets in Erie in early May, Marucci said. More: Erie police have three new K-9 officers. When they'll be on patrol Each of the dogs is trained in patrol duties, and two of the dogs are also trained for drug detection and one is additionally trained for explosives and gun detection, police reported. Contact Tim Hahn at thahn@ This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie police officer, police dog escape serious injury in crash
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Baton Rouge-based bat maker hits home run with MLB's torpedo bat craze
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Torpedo bats have quickly become one of the hottest topics in Major League Baseball this season—and they're being made right here in Baton Rouge. The New York Yankees made headlines after hitting nine home runs in a single game, with several of those blasts coming off torpedo bats. Advertisement Among the players using them is Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, who swings a Victus bat — a brand owned by Marucci Sports. The sports equipment manufacturer is headquartered in Baton Rouge and is seeing soaring demand. Kurt Ainsworth, co-founder and CEO of Marucci Sports, said that approximately 55% of MLB players use either Marucci or Victus bats. The company's torpedo model is one of the latest innovations now in the hands of major leaguers—and available to the public. MLB stars swinging Marucci or Victus include former LSU standout Alex Bregman, as well as Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodríguez, Austin Riley, Freddie Freeman, and Trea Turner. Last season, Giancarlo Stanton and Francisco Lindor both used torpedo bat models developed by Marucci. The company confirmed Lindor's model, the Lindy12 Torpedo Pro Exclusive, is still in use this season. Advertisement Bregman's $120 million, 3-year deal with Red Sox includes $60 million deferred, paid from 2035-46 What makes torpedo bats different? 'The torpedo model shifts mass from the end of the bat down toward the barrel to expand the sweet spot,' Ainsworth explained. That shift doesn't change the bat's diameter, he said, but it does increase the hittable area, giving hitters a better chance of solid contact—a strategic advantage as pitchers continue to throw harder and fielders rely more heavily on positioning data. 'For torpedo models, it's even more important to leverage player swing data to see where on the bat they most consistently make contact,' Ainsworth said. Advertisement As of this week, Ainsworth said about half of all Marucci's MLB orders include requests to test torpedo models. Photos shared by Marucci show close-ups of the distinctive bat alongside others in production, reflecting the company's sharp focus on innovation and customization. A torpedo bat from Marucci Sports is seen close up with other bats in the background. (Photo courtesy of MC Huntsberry) Multiple torpedo bats from Marucci Sports are observed together during the production process. (Photo courtesy of MC Huntsberry) Built in Baton Rouge, used around the world Founded in 2004, Marucci Sports operates its headquarters in Baton Rouge with additional offices in Japan, Pennsylvania, and Utah. Ainsworth said the company can produce over 1,000 bats per day, with custom bats turned around in seven to ten days on average. 'Our team is always looking to innovate to help hitters adapt to the evolving game,' Ainsworth said. Advertisement LSU gymnastics advances to national semifinals: How to watch Latest News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News.
New York Times
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Torpedo bats spark record sales, trademark attempts as they head to stores
Torpedo bats have been the focus of the baseball world at the start of the new MLB season and it's paying off for bat companies in a big way. Marucci and Victus, the new official bats of MLB, as well as Chandler were the first manufacturers to put torpedo bats on sale publicly Monday, at prices ranging from $199 to $239. Advertisement 'It was the most popular bat we've had in the first 24, 48, 72 hours — you can keep adding up the numbers — it's been the most popular drop we've had since we've been making bats in 14 years,' Jared Smith, CEO of Victus, told The Phillies Show podcast. He said the company has had baseball players from eight- and nine-year-olds to over 70 want to try them. Smith also estimated that about a quarter of MLB players have contacted them or parent company Marucci to test the torpedo bats. Chandler Bats told The Athletic that they're seeing 'record sales volume in all channels' with their torpedo bat releases. But sales of torpedo bats are just starting to ramp up. Louisville Slugger and Rawlings are also selling them online now and retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods will soon begin to stock them in stores, according to Victus. Big Time Bats, which makes products licensed by the MLB Players Association, is selling 'torpedo style' bats commemorating the Yankees' home run records achieved on Opening Day from $139 to $395. Victus is planning versions of the torpedo bats with custom art, and a Yankees-painted version is already on sale in the team's stadium shop. Meanwhile, torpedo bats and Yankees-themed torpedo bat apparel are being sold on eBay and Topps produced print-to-order Topps Now cards commemorating the Yankees and Elly De La Cruz's exploits with the new bats. However, MLB The Show 25 developer San Diego Studio says there are no immediate plans to put torpedo bats in the game. As for when metal bats will get the torpedo treatment, Smith told The Phillies Show that the process is being expedited. 'We actually have already tested some metal bats (with the torpedo design),' he said. 'We had tested them a few months ago, it was something we weren't rushing along because we were in the testing phase, but now that this has really hit the market the way that it has, I think it will be something that you see come to market in a metal bat I would assume sometime in the next few months.' Advertisement Although bat shapes can't be patented there have been trademarks filed this week for 'Torpedo Bat' and 'The Torpedo Bat' by Purple Lion LLC and Just Happy LLC, respectively. Just Happy's application, filed by Jessica and Michael Hauptman, aims to trademark the term 'Torpedo Bat' for baseball bats, jerseys, shirts, pants, and apparel. In addition, 'Torpedo Barrel Bat' was also filed by the Hauptmans. UVA Holdings LLC in New Jersey has a pending trademark on 'Torpedo' for baseball bats in the goods and services category. This comes more than two decades after the 'Torpedo Training Bat' wordmark was abandoned by Easton Sports in 2002. Purple Lion, a manufacturer 'overseas,' told The Athletic, 'Torpedo bats are the craze right now and we wanted to get in on the action.' Just Happy registered the domain name ' before filing on April 1, 2025. Its website originally listed a residential address in New York that has since been removed and featured a single product offering of a Torpedo Bat listed for $185 that is also now gone. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
‘Torpedomania': MLB's latest obsession leads to a wild week for bat makers
NEW YORK — Jared Smith and Kurt Ainsworth collectively have over 35 years of expertise in the bat-making industry. Yet nothing they've seen has sparked excitement quite like the unprecedented surge of interest in torpedo bats since this weekend. 'I've gotten more messages about the torpedo bat — I've been doing this for over 20 years now — than I have on anything we have ever done in the history of our company,' said Ainsworth, the CEO and co-founder of Marucci Sports. Advertisement 'This is Torpedomania.' The New York Yankees helped bring the torpedo bats mainstream this past weekend after they hit 15 home runs and scored 36 runs in three games against the Milwaukee Brewers. Five Yankees — Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Volpe and Austin Wells — used torpedo bats in the opening series, and those players combined for 10 of the club's record-setting 18 home runs in its first four games. If not for the initial offensive barrage from the Yankees, it's likely the level of interest in the torpedo bats would not be so pronounced. That's why several bat manufacturers, including Marucci and Victus, the official bats of MLB, as well as Chandler Bats and Louisville Slugger, rushed to capitalize on the moment to begin selling them to the general public. But it's not just baseball fans who've been captivated by the newly designed bats; some players across MLB learned about the torpedoes at the same time as the public and requested an immediate order. On Monday, Smith, the CEO and founder of Victus Sports, personally drove a shipment of torpedo bats to Citizens Bank Park from the company's headquarters in the Philadelphia suburbs so Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm could have one for a game against the Colorado Rockies. 'All bets are off once you start seeing performance like that,' Smith said. 'Between Marucci and Victus, we have probably 55 to 60 percent of the league. I bet at least half of that group has reached out to either ask about it or sample them. We'll see how many guys end up using it.' Torpedo bats have just become mainstream, but they were being used under the radar in 2024. Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton used a torpedo bat all last season and finished with his best stats since 2021. Behind the scenes, Stanton's adoption of the technology during his torrid postseason last October started generating buzz in the bat industry, according to Smith. Stanton had seven home runs and a 1.048 OPS for the Yankees in the 2024 playoffs. New York Mets superstar shortstop Francisco Lindor also used a torpedo bat last season and finished second in the National League MVP voting. Advertisement 'I would say the benefits of the torpedo are for people that tend to have their hits or miss hits a little closer to the label,' Smith said. 'If you know the sweet spot difference between wood and metal bats, the sweet spot on a wood bat is typically more towards the end of the bat. On metal bats, the sweet spots are more towards the hands. This is kind of a way to almost give you a little bit more of that same performance area and that similar placement to where a metal bat would be as opposed to a wood bat.' Stanton's exploits in the 2024 postseason certainly drew attention, but the staff at Marucci realized the potential of their innovations during an otherwise meaningless exhibition game seven months earlier. In spring training, former Yankees analyst Aaron Leanhardt sent drawings to the bat manufacturers that he wanted to present to the slugger, who was coming off a career-worst 86 wRC+ in 2023. Stanton tried three different barrel designs (small, medium and large) that Leanhardt had designed. The first time Stanton used a torpedo bat in a game, he went 3-for-3 with three home runs versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on March 20, 2024. 'He hit like a quarter-mile of homers or something,' said Brett Laxton, the lead bat maker at Marucci. 'That was a good eye test right there for a first shot at it.' Laxton and the crew at Marucci were pumped. 'That's part of our work,' he said. 'I'd turn the TV on and it's like, 'Yeah, that's working for that guy.' The player still has to hit the ball. We're just trying to make the best tools for them.' Laxton said Stanton's bat looked more like a bowling pin than a torpedo — and that was on purpose. 'Some of the guys who are high swing-miss guys, their shapes are going to be a little more different,' he said. 'They're going to be more like that bowling pin. Giancarlo is a swing-and-miss guy. They felt like if they could get a little bit more stuff (barrel) moving through the air and hit the ball, he has a better chance of doing damage.' Advertisement But Stanton was also playing through what he would later call 'severe pain' in both of his elbows. Stanton revealed his experience at the start of spring training this year and was diagnosed with epicondylitis — or tennis elbow — in both of his arms. He missed all of spring training and remains on the injured list. Stanton told reporters in March that the injury was 'probably' due to 'some bat adjustments' he made last season, though he added, 'I don't know why it happened.' On Tuesday, Stanton declined to discuss whether it was specifically the torpedo bats that may have hurt him. Perhaps tellingly, he did say he would continue to use them when he returns. Justin Cryer, Marucci's director of sports marketing, didn't think the bats were to blame. 'He's older and he's the biggest, most physical player in baseball, and I think all of you can see he swings a weapon harder than anyone in the league,' Cryer said. 'So that's one thing for sure. … He also changed handles as well. So it's not necessarily bat-design specific. He might think some of that could point to the bat, but also there's a lot to go into it that he's the biggest, strongest guy swinging a baseball bat and he's got a very vertical swing and it's part of a lot of things.' Although it's only been less than a week of torpedo buzz, Marucci and Victus don't believe this is a cute fad that will soon disappear from the league's consciousness. Now that more players are expected to experiment with the bats in the coming days, the companies and teams will have more data on whether there are tangible benefits for certain players to use a torpedo version rather than a standard bat. Smith wasn't sure if there was any correlation between using a torpedo bat and a higher bat speed, although each of the five Yankees players using them experienced an increase in the first series of 2025 compared to their 2024 numbers. He also wasn't sure if the barrel could increase exit velocities, but there is the belief that players could experience a better hard-hit frequency with a bigger barrel. Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich, who saw firsthand what the Yankees accomplished, said he was happy that there was a possible technological advancement in hitting. Yelich noted that over the past several years, most of the advancements have come on the pitching side. Now, the hitters are getting their turn. Advertisement 'Players are all aware of what's going on inside other people's locker rooms (and) what the media picks up,' Cryer said. 'Just the instant uptick of, 'Hey, this is a different-shaped bat and some guys have had some success over a weekend.' They're like, 'Hey, should I do this? What does it look like for me? Can I get this?'' Laxton believes torpedoes will be a mainstay in the league. Ainsworth thinks the torpedo bats will have more tweaks in the years ahead, but he sees a future in MLB where these become more commonplace. As the data rolls in in the weeks ahead, bat makers are bracing for the newest obsession to become a fixture in baseball. 'The torpedoes are here to stay,' Smith said. 'It's difficult for people to want to take a risk and actually swing something that looks weird. When you have a team that goes out and hits nine home runs and you see all these guys performing with them, it gives you that confidence to go try it.' (Top photo of Anthony Volpe swinging a torpedo bat: Brad Penner / Imagn Images)
