The introduction of “torpedo bats” has sparked considerable debate in Major League Baseball, with numerous sports media figures expressing varying opinions on this new design. Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz reinforced the notion that these bats enhance offensive performance, recording four hits—including two home runs—during Monday’s game, which ended in a 14-3 rout against the Texas Rangers.
436 FT and 110.2 MPH off the bat!
Elly De La Cruz CRUSHES this ball for his second home run of the night! 😱 pic.twitter.com/a6Cs06JKJK
— MLB (@MLB) April 1, 2025
On Tuesday’s episode of The Herd, Colin Cowherd from FS1 shared his insights on De La Cruz’s impressive performance and the broader implications of torpedo bats. He suggested that an increase in runs scored due to these bats could significantly enhance MLB’s viewership, building on the uptick in audience numbers seen in 2024. “So we talked about this yesterday. Our leadoff hitter again today is baseball,” said Cowherd. He emphasized that De La Cruz, one of baseball’s standout players, utilized the torpedo bat effectively, contributing to his team’s remarkable offensive output.
Cowherd elaborated that while the Minnesota Twins struggled with the torpedo bats, scoring only six runs, the overall trend indicates a favorable shift: “It’s another win for baseball. More runs, more action, more baserunners.” He noted an impressive seven teams now batting over .290, pointing out that this new offensive style doesn’t prolong game durations, as evidenced by Cincinnati’s recent 14-run performance taking just under three hours. “People have lives,” he remarked, underscoring the necessity for quicker games.
Drawing a parallel between the innovation of torpedo bats and the offensive surge during “The Steroid Era,” Cowherd referred to the bats as “legal HGH,” highlighting that while they’re not universally used, they promote increased hitting. He argued that unlike steroids—which artificially boosted players not typically competing for home runs—torpedo bats support legal and innovative evolution within the sport. “It’s amazing when you embrace innovation and don’t fight it,” he declared.
While it may be early to definitively compare the impact of torpedo bats to that of steroids, Cowherd’s assertion raises intriguing questions about their influence on the game. Regardless, if evidence mounts that these bats correlate with harder-hit balls, we could see a resurgence in baseball viewership, paralleling the excitement generated by offensive production. Notably, Nike famously pondered this with their 1999 commercial, “Chicks Dig the Long Ball,” indicating a long-standing appreciation for offensive prowess in baseball, suggesting that as torpedo bats gain traction, we might witness a renaissance in the sport’s popularity.
