MLB Betting: Torpedo Bats, Judge, and Yankee Home Runs Dominate Narrative

Posted on: April 4, 2025, 12:13h. 

Last updated on: April 4, 2025, 01:25h.

Mark Keast Read More
Expertise: Canadian Gaming, iGaming, Las Vegas, Sports Betting, NFL, Boxing, UFC.
  • Yankees smash 22 home runs through six games
  • Torpedo bats dominate narrative so far this season
  • Aaron Judge leads by far in AL MVP odds

One week into the new Major Baseball Season and the dominant narrative remains Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees’ home run hitting, and torpedo bats.

New York Yankees’ slugger Aaron Judge is off to a torrid start to the new MLB season, and is the betting favorite for AL MVP. (Image: Shutterstock)

As baseball writer Jeff Passan puts it, torpedo bats, which are shaped like a bowling pin, have been the buzz around MLB ballparks so far. Torpedo bats have taken on a life of their own, so far, according to Buster Olney.

A torpedo bat is legal according to MLB rules, which state a bat must be a smooth, round stick, no more than 2.61 inches in diameter at its thickest part, no longer than 42 inches, and made of one piece of solid wood. 

The torpedo bat shifts more mass to the area of the bat (the sweet spot) where players most typically make contact with the ball, and is skinnier at the top end). The design allows for greater impact when the bat strikes ball, according to Passan. It isn’t like corking a bat, which is illegal, and would result in suspension for the player.

MLB has confirmed the bat doesn’t break league rules.

Yankees Set Home Run Record

Using technology to boost power and production? Players like the Yankees’ Giancarlo Stanton has, which led him to a torrid October on the home run stats sheet last season, helping propel the Yankees to the World Series.

Then came the Yankees’ season-opening series last weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers – a three-game sweep where the team hit 15 bombs, including a Saturday game where they hit nine of them.

Yankee teammates like Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Paul Goldschmidt have been using torpedo bats.

Earlier this week against the Arizona Diamondbacks they became the first team to hit 18 home runs in their first four games of a season.

Players on other teams are taking notice. The Blue Jays Davis Schneider is one of those players. Ryan Jeffers of the Twins is another. Will the torpedo bat buzz spread to more players on other teams?

Aaron Judge: 5 HRs in 6 Games

Sportsbooks are taking notice as well. The Yankees were at it again Thursday night, thumping the Diamondbacks 9-7.

Judge, who doesn’t use a torpedo bat, blasted his fifth homer of the season (15 RBIs now) – his 500th extra-base hit. Chisholm Jr. hit his fourth homer of the year. Trent Grisham hit one as well.

The Yankees are 4-2 on the season, tied for second in the American League East with the Tampa Bay Rays, both half a game back of the 5-2 Jays. 

As Las Vegas bookmaker and DraftKings Director of Sports Operations Johnny Avello said, sportsbooks should see more betting volume around the Yankees going forward.

As one of the most iconic brands in all of sports, the Yankees will always attract money,” said Avello. “The torpedo bats have added an additional layer of interest and excitement around the team. The sample size is still small, and their offense has started to slow down just a bit following the outburst against Milwaukee, but this is a trend the bettors are into, and we expect to see elevated interest around the Yankees moving forward – particularly player props for those using the torpedo bats.”

At DraftKings, the 8-0 Los Angeles Dodgers are heads above everyone else as the odds-on favorite to win the World Series at +250. Then there are the Atlanta Braves at +900, and the Yankees at +950. At BetMGM, it’s the Dodgers at +230 in World Series odds, then the Yankees at +800.

Stanton Back Soon?

That’s a surprise considering the Yankees lost Juan Soto to free agency, and all-star pitcher Gerrit Cole to Tommy John surgery, at the start of the new campaign.

The Yankees are always a popular bet but have been so even more to start the season,” said John Ewing of BetMGM, on Wednesday. “Best example, we shared out betting earlier today on baseball and Yankees over 4.5 runs was the most bet prop for the day.”

Aaron Judge is by far the betting favorite for American League MVP so far: -125 at DraftKings, -130 at BetMGM, -125 at FanDuel.

Stanton is out with elbow and calf issues, but he and his torpedo bat have been hitting indoors, MLB.com has been reporting, so the Yankees lineup with be getting a further boost shortly.