Of note is how D-backs pitchers handled the five Yankees who are known to be using the torpedo bat: Anthony Volpe and Paul Goldschmidt, who bat righty, and Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Austin Wells, who bat lefty.
Max Muncy -- the Los Angeles Dodgers one, not the A's guy -- decided to try the now-famous (or infamous, as some feel) torpedo bat on Wednesday night in an eventual win over the Atlanta Braves.
MLB's biggest trend hasn't made its way to L.A. just yet, but the reigning champion Dodgers are intrigued and plan to test the new bats out soon.
With Muncy ditching the torpedo, the Dodgers had the game all knotted up at five when Shohei Ohtani came to bat with two outs in the ninth and no one on base. The Japanese superstar drilled a home run to center to walk it off, giving Los Angeles a 6-5 win and an 8-0 record while Atlanta flounders to an 0-7 embarrassment.
Players expected to use a Torpedo Bat tonight: Elly De La Cruz (CIN) Jose Trevino (CIN) Dansby Swanson (CHC) Nico Hoerner (CHC) Ryan Jeffers (MIN) Francisco Lindor (NYM) Anthony Volpe (NYY) Austin Wells (NYY) Cody Bellinger (NYY) Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY) Paul Goldschmidt (NYY)…
Dodgers star Max Muncy added to the sudden torpedo bat craze. He emerged as the latest MLB player seen using one before facing the Braves.
Reds star Elly De La Cruz is the latest convert, hitting two home runs and knocking in seven runs in his first game with the unique bat.
Kiké Hernández struck out on the next at-bat to end the inning and strand Muncy at second, but then Shohei Ohtani came through one inning later with a walkoff homer on his bobblehead night. The Dodgers are now 8-0, the longest undefeated run by a defending champion to open the season in MLB history.
Baseball bat manufacturers had little evidence to suggest a spike in sales was just around the corner when Major League Baseball’s newest season opened last week.