Yankees Anthony Volpe's Torpedo Bat Fails to Deliver Long-Term Results

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Apr 27, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Anthony Volpe's 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. He got off to a blazing start, but now he is mired in a prolonged enough slump that there have been calls for the 23-year-old shortstop to lose his spot in the lineup.

While Yankees manager Aaron Boone has made it clear that it will not happen, there are enough underlying red flags to wonder about Volpe’s future. George Lombard, Jr. may only be in high Class-A, but the infield prospect is expected to move fast. He could be in the big leagues in a year or two.

So, Volpe has some time, but he needs to straighten things out.

In the first five games, Volpe launched four home runs using the much-discussed "torpedo bat," a design innovation that enhances contact by shifting the barrel closer to the handle. This early success suggested that the bat could be a game-changer for Volpe.

However, that surge was short-lived.

Since his last home run on April 2, Volpe has struggled at the plate, going 6-for-43 (.140) with 18 strikeouts over a 12-game span, causing his OPS to drop from .908 to .680. Despite the torpedo bat's design to compensate for contact closer to the handle, Volpe's offensive metrics have not improved long-term.

Volpe has a high whiff rate of 38.5% against four-seam fastballs, indicating difficulty with high-velocity pitches. He excels against sinkers, boasting a .500 batting average and a 70.0% hard-hit rate, suggesting that others remain a problem, while he can handle certain pitches effectively.

Boone has noted improvements in Volpe's swing mechanics and increased bat speed. He believes these adjustments and Volpe's defensive prowess and base-running skills will eventually translate into more consistent offensive production.

But the torpedo bat was introduced to Volpe specifically to help his offense, and so far, it has not been effective. It cannot address underlying issues with pitch recognition and contact consistency, so Volpe will have to do that the old-fashioned way.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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