Philly Leader

Jared Smith, the founder and CEO of Victus Sports, recently made headlines when he delivered the latest innovation in baseball bats, known as Torpedo bats, to the Phillies. On Monday morning, Smith drove from King of Prussia to Citizens Bank Park with the bats in tow. These bats have gained attention after the Yankees used them to hit nine home runs in a single game against the Brewers at Yankee Stadium.

“It’s been the most popular drop we’ve had since we started making bats 14 years ago,” Smith remarked, highlighting the significant interest in the new equipment. Phillies players, including Bryce Harper and others, reached out to Victus hoping to try the Torpedo bats themselves.

The Torpedo bat's design, with a bigger barrel closer to the hitter’s hands, aims to redistribute the mass towards the sweet spot, potentially enhancing hitting performance. Bohm, a Phillies player, tested the bat before a game against the Rockies and noted, “Good to see Alec pull it really straight out of the box and game it and get a knock with it in his second AB.”

Despite some players remaining undecided about the bats, with Bryson Stott expressing skepticism, "If you’re more on the end of the bat, the Torpedo’s not great for you," others see potential benefits. Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long acknowledged various factors could have contributed to the Yankees' success, stating, “The pitching probably wasn’t as good as it needed to be."

Victus and other manufacturers continue to innovate, seeking ways to improve batting performance while adhering to MLB regulations. Kevin Long humorously recalled how he first heard about the bats from his wife, who sent him a photo, joking, “My wife is ahead of me on this.”

The debate over the Torpedo bats continues, but they undoubtedly remain at the center of baseball discussions.