Technological breakthroughs are rare in baseball, a sport that dates back to the 1860s and relies on just a bat, helmet, glove, and cap. With such a simple setup, there isn’t much room for major advancements. However, teams often look at materials and the finer details for any potential edge. The New York Yankees may have discovered one such innovation, which could be a game-changer.
According to Major League Baseball regulations, bats must be “smooth, round sticks no more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no longer than 42 inches,” and they must be made from a single piece of wood. But the Yankees believe they have found a way to push the boundaries of traditional bat design. This innovation might have played a role in their explosive performance on Saturday, when they hit nine home runs in a dominant 20-9 win over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Instead of positioning the thickest part of the bat at the barrel (the top part), the Yankees have shifted it closer to the handle, at the “label” of the bat. This creates a unique shape, which the team believes gives them an advantage. YES Network announcer Michael Kay explained on the broadcast that the Yankees’ analytics department conducted a study on shortstop Anthony Volpe, who tended to make contact with the label rather than the barrel. The team then had custom bats made with more wood at the label, allowing the harder part of the bat to strike the ball more effectively.
This unconventional design worked wonders for the Yankees on Saturday. Facing Brewers starter Nestor Cortes—who had been traded by the Yankees to Milwaukee for closer Devin Williams—the Yankees hit three consecutive home runs on the first three pitches of the game. Leadoff hitter Paul Goldschmidt launched his first homer as a Yankee, followed by Cody Bellinger’s first in pinstripes. Then, Aaron Judge smashed a 468-foot shot to left field.
By the end of the first inning, the Yankees had set a team record with four home runs. Milwaukee responded with three runs in the second inning, but Volpe, the inspiration for the new bat design, hit a three-run homer to extend the Yankees’ lead. The offense continued to roll as Judge hit a grand slam, followed by Jazz Chisholm’s solo shot. Judge completed his remarkable day with a third homer, and Oswaldo Peraza hit a final blast to cap off the 20-9 victory.
While the Brewers hit a three-run homer in the ninth, the Yankees’ offensive explosion proved too much to overcome. The new bat design seems to have given them a significant edge, leading to a memorable and record-breaking performance.
