CINCINNATI — The last thing opposing pitchers want is the sight of Elly De La Cruz with a new weapon in his hands.
We saw the results Monday night when Cincinnati’s most electric baseball star got his hands on the hottest – and most controversial – thing for hitters. It’s called the “torpedo” bat because of its inverse taper from the end of the bat to the middle or trademark part of the stick. It allows for a greater sweet spot while not affecting the overall weight or length of the bat.
An MIT physicist – Aaron Leanheardt – came up with the idea to help Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees improve his damage on pitches through his swing path through the strike zone. He wasn’t able to get his hands through the path and was – as a result – fouling off pitches off the trademark, or lower toward the handle.
Well, the idea came up in 2024 with the Yankees and continued this spring in Florida. Now, one week into the season, and more and more players are getting their hands on them. The Yankees obliterated the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend, belting 15 homers in a three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium, including eight in a 20-9 win on Saturday.
On Monday, Jose Trevino acknowledged that he used the bat last season with the Yankees and continues to do so this season, registering his first base hit Monday night in the 14-3 romp over Texas at Great American Ball Park.
“At first I was like, ‘No, no way this is like that,’ and then I tried it. I liked it. I remember hitting BP with it a few times. And then I took it to a backfield game and had some success there. And then I took it to my first game in spring last year, and had some success there. So I was like, ‘You know what? This is not going to be as bad as I think.’ So I used it. And then I started liking it a little bit.”
I asked Trevino if it impacts the swing.
“I mean, it’s, it’s your swing, just the bat in your hand,” Trevino told me.
De La Cruz wanted to see what all the hype was about so he tried it Monday and boy, the results were overpowering.
He went 4-for-5 with a hit a pair of tape measure home runs, doubled and drove in a career-high seven runs. That’s all pitchers needed to see now was Elly with a tool that will help him get to the sweet spot of his swing faster.
“It felt good, really good,” De La Cruz said of the unique taper that allows for more weight closer to the handle of the bat. “I just wanted to know if it felt good, and it did.”
Terry Francona tried to offer perspective before and after Monday’s game as the “Torpedo” phenomena was raging through baseball.
“I don’t have a big opinion. You look at where the pitches are. It might not be the bats,” Francona said. “Bats are really personal.”
After the game, Francona said simply, “I think it’s the player more than the bat.”
With De La Cruz’s undeniable talent, it’s hard to argue. Still, De La Cruz matched Javier Valentin on July 17, 2005 for the most runs driven in by a switch-hitter in a single game in club history.
Then there’s Matt McLain using his standard issue. McLain added his third homer of the season and drove in three runs for the Reds, who scored three runs in each of the first two innings to coast to the win.
Making his Cincinnati debut, right-hander Brady Singer was in complete command throughout. Only one batter reached second base against Singer when Adolis Garcia doubled down the left field line with one out in the second. Singer retired Jake Burger and Josh Smith without Garcia advancing to third.
With 14 runs of support, Singer (1-0) cruised to the win, needing just 92 pitches to finish seven shutout innings, allowing just the Garcia double while striking out eight and walking two. Singer became the first pitcher since 1900 to throw seven scoreless innings and allow just one hit in his Cincinnati debut.
The only troubling news for the Reds was first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand getting hit on the right hand by a fastball from Rangers reliever Gerson Garabito in Cincinnati’s six-run sixth inning. It was the same hand on which he had wrist ligament surgery last July after Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen hit him in a game on April 27, 2024. Encarnacion-Strand stayed in the game, ran the bases and scored before coming out for a defensive replacement in the seventh.
After the game, Francona said x-rays on Encarnacion-Strand’s right hand were negative and that he would be “day-to-day” after the scare. “He’s okay,” Francona said.
It was a cold night in Cincinnati, as a stiff breeze blew in from left field combined with a game-time temperature of 44 degrees.
But the fans that did attend were treated to an early offensive display by the Reds. TJ Friedl opened with a single against Texas starter Kumar Rocker (0-1). Matt McLain followed with a long homer to the seats in left-center for his third of the season in just four games and staking Brady Singer to a 2-0 lead in his Cincinnati debut.
Rocker was charged with six runs and seven hits over three innings, striking out three, walking two and giving up two home runs.
