Derrick White has set a new Boston Celtics team record.
The veteran point guard made his 246th 3-point shot of the season in Monday night’s road game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He has surpassed Isaiah Thomas, who set the C’s single-season record for 3-pointers with 245 during the 2016-17 campaign.
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It’s not surprising that this record has fallen. The Celtics are on pace to break NBA records for the most 3-pointers made and attempted by a team in one season.
The fact that White has broken the record is a little surprising. White came to the Celtics in a pre-trade deadline deal with the San Antonio Spurs in 2022. He was not known as an excellent outside shooter, but to his credit, he has improved quite a bit in this aspect of his game.
White never shot better than 36.6 percent from 3-point range in a full season with the Spurs. He has never shot below 38.1 percent in his three full seasons with the Celtics (including this year). White entered Monday with a 38.3 3-point percentage this season.
White broke the record, but he probably won’t be the only Celtics player to pass Thomas this season. Jayson Tatum came into Monday needing eight 3-pointers and Payton Pritchard needed nine 3-pointers to pass Thomas’ previous record of 245 3-pointers.
Based on his season averages, White could end the season with 270 3-pointers made.
The league record belongs to Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, who made 402 3-point shots in the 2015-16 campaign.
Australian spinner Nathan Lyon was left “heartbroken” after match officials reported fellow tweaker Matthew Kuhnemann for a suspect bowling action, supporting calls for the testing process to be conducted behind closed doors.
MARYLAND
HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Like
any nervous kid looking to do something for the first time Jimmy
Snuggerud was like a sponge on Monday.
The
2022 first-round pick (No. 23) by the St. Louis Blues was on the
practice ice on Monday for the first time after signing his
three-year, entry-level contract on Friday, just one day after a
premature ending to his collegiate season – and career – when the
Minnesota Golden Gophers fell to Massachusetts 5-4 in overtime on
Thursday at the Fargo Regional semifinals.
And
judging by practice line combinations and power play drills, the
20-year-old is expected to make his NHL debut when the Blues
(40-28-7) put their nine-game winning streak on the line to begin a
three-game homestand on Tuesday against the Detroit Red Wings
(34-33-6).
“Potentially,”
Blues coach Jim Montgomery said. “He had a good practice, will talk
it over with the staff, but there’s some quality talent that we’ve
acquired and is going to make us deeper, better.”
Snuggerud,
who had 51 points (24 goals, 27 assists) in 40 games for the Golden
Gophers this season, was on a line with Oskar Sundqvist and Zack
Bolduc on Monday and played the bumper with one of the Blues’
power-play units.
“It
was good. It was a fast-paced practice,” Snuggerud said. “A lot
of movement, a lot of speed. It was fun. It was just great to be on
the ice with the guys.
“It’s
kind of just learning from other guys and watching. The speed, it
showed quick. The first drill, you kind of have to be ready from the
start and there’s so many good players on the ice, so just watch
them and what they’re doing and kind of learn from them.”
It’s
been a whirlwind of emotions for the 20-year-old, who went back to
school on his own accord, to not only better himself in certain areas
he felt he wasn’t ready for to compete at this level yet but also
to try and win a national championship, which he unfortunately was
unable to do.
“It’s
kind of hard to turn the page quick, but you kind of have to
honestly,” Snuggerud said. “You jump from one team to another
team who is the hottest team in the National Hockey League. You’ve
got to switch your mindset quick. I think I’ve learned from a lot
of people in my life that have taught me to do that. It’s been an
easy adjustment.
“It
was a really quick turnaround honestly. From zero to 100. A lot of
emotions honestly. You lose your season and I’m really excited to
be here now and meet this group of guys.”
Should
Snuggerud jump into the lineup, he will go in for Mathieu Joseph, who
was an extra along with 2023 first-round pick (No. 10 overall)
Dalibor Dvorsky and Alexandre Texier.
“You
come in and let him play, let him feel comfortable and go from
there,” Blues captain Brayden Schenn said. “He’s going to be
nervous, he was nervous today. He flat-out said it, right. He’s
never been in an NHL training camp, right, so it’s our job to make
him feel as comfortable as possible as quick as possible. Obviously
he has elite talent and at the same time, you don’t expect him to
come in here and be this guy that’s going to save your season or
whatever. He’s just got to be a piece for us and that’s all we
need from him and just play his game.”
Montgomery
admitted prior to Monday not knowing anything about Snuggerud other
than what he’s maybe seen on television or read about him. And
after a practice session, he’s learned, “His hockey sense, his
game management, his puck play was really good. His hands are
exceptional, his skating is NHL speed. Those are things you’re
looking to see, but the biggest thing is the brain, that he thinks it
so well.”
With
the Blues, who hold the second wild card from the Western Conference,
on an absolute tear, does it disrupt the room implementing someone
new into the lineup?
“We’re
not going to worry about Jimmy being a disruption in our locker
room,” said Schenn, who drove Snuggerud to the rink on Monday. “I
think our locker room’s good enough where he can come in and just
be a piece for us and a guy that has a lot of skill and a lot of
talent that can fit in well for us. Even in the run, Matt Kessel
stepped in for a game, Dvorsky stepped in for a game. It’s one of
those things where you don’t have to worry about him coming in and
disrupting or any of that stuff. That’s not what we’re worried
about. You let him come in, find his game, but at the same time,
don’t put pressure on him. Just let him play and let him get better
game by game.”
Montgomery
said, though, it was something that needed to be addressed with the
leaders.
“As
a coach, you never stop worrying about all those possibilities, but
in the end, I think if you communicate to everybody that’s
involved, especially your leaders, and they understand that when we
bring in a new player, it’s an opportunity for us to get better,
and that’s why we’re doing it, and in the end, we all want to put
the best players on the ice and the best team possible,” Montgomery
said. “I’ll sit with the staff and we’ll see if we make a
change in the lineup or not.”
The
points of emphasis Snuggerud feels he’s equipped to handle now
include, “Speed, puck possession, poise, leadership things. Those
things are kind of why I decided to come back and that’s what I
wanted to work on. I feel like I worked on those things well enough
to a point where I could jump on this team. But like I said before,
it’s a fast-paced game and I’m really lucky and fortunate to be
here and I feel like I’ve improved myself to be here, but there’s
still a long ways to go.
“I
feel like my game has evolved over the past year. Obviously the speed
is different. Guys in here want to win and I think I have that
winning mentality. I just want to win games and I want to be here for
them, be by their side when they win hockey games. That was kind of
the most important thing for me is making that jump knowing the
mentality is hockey, hockey, hockey. There’s no school anymore.
It’s just hockey and you’re here to win hockey games and that’s
it.”
“Everyone
in here is so nice. Just meeting the guys already, it’s such a
tight-knit group of guys. It’s cool to meet them and talk to guys
on the ice. There’s some Minnesota guys in here too so it’s cool
to connect with them. There’s some college players too. It’s just
cool the connections you can start and create with guys in this
locker room.”
Snuggerud,
who chose No. 21; not out of a connection, but because, “I just
happened to look at the list and happened to choose 21. I’m kind of
playing for what’s on the front,” goes from playing for one title
and jumping into a playoff race probably eases somewhat the sting of
not accomplishing what he wanted when he went back to college.
“It’s
cool. You dream of it as a kid,” he said. “You obviously still
don’t know yet. But I’m playing for everyone else in here. I’m
here to win hockey games. Hopefully that’s what I kind of entail on
other guys. They’re the hottest team in the NHL and I’m so lucky
and grateful to be a part of it.”
A baseball card autographed by Shohei Ohtani and featuring a piece of the pants the Dodgers superstar wore while becoming the first MLB player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a season has sold for more than $1 million.
The one-of-a-kind Topps Dynasty Black card that features an on-card signature in gold ink by Ohtani and the MLB logo patch from the pants he wore during his record-setting game against the Miami Marlins was sold by Heritage Auctions on Saturday night for $1,067,500. The name of the buyer has not been revealed.
That is by far the most money paid in a public auction for an Ohtani card. The previous record was the $533,140 paid last year for a card from the 2018 Bowman Chrome Rookie Autographs Orange Refractor set. While 25 of those cards exist, that one received a 10 from the Beckett Grading Service.
The record-setting card is one of three different cards from the 50-50 game that Topps used to launch its Dynasty Black series, which features one-of-one autographed cards with pieces of game-used memorabilia from specific, historic moments. One of those Ohtani 50-50 cards — which includes a tag from the batting gloves Ohtani wore while hitting his 50th home run and a laundry tag from the pants he wore during that game — received $173,240 at auction in February.
"Shohei Ohtani is currently the best player in the game, and this 1-of-1 card is tied to a significant historical moment as the first MLB player to join the 50/50 club in 2024," Chris Ivy, director of sports auctions at Heritage, told The Times in an email. "It is also the most desirable of the three 1-of-1 Dynasty black cards because of the logo patch."
Ivy added: "Part of what makes this result remarkable is the fact that it was not a rookie card — they usually are among the most popular in the collecting community — and still set the world record."
Earlier this month, the one-of-one major league rookie debut patch autograph card for Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes sold at auction for $1.11 million.
Ohtani entered the Sept. 19 game at loanDepot Park with 48 home runs and 49 steals. He wasted no time reaching 50 stolen bases, swiping third base in the first inning, then added No. 51 in the second inning. Then came home run No. 49 in the sixth inning, setting the stage for history to be made in the seventh.
After fouling off the first two pitches and laying off one in the dirt, Ohtani sent a hanging curveball by Marlins reliever Mike Baumann 391 feet and over the left-field wall. That ball was auctioned for $4.392 million, an amount that surpassed any sum paid for a baseball, in October.
HOUSTON — Jordan Hicks stepped out of the dugout at 6:30 p.m. on Monday and looked around. He had a glove in one hand, a bag of equipment in the other, and a lifetime of memories flooding back into his head.
Hicks is a Houston native and grew up rooting for Lance Berkman, Craig Biggio and others. He came to about 20 Astros games as a child and has fond memories of experiencing Major League Baseball for the first time at a ballpark that he still refers to by its previous name. As Hicks looked around what is now Daikin Park, he thought back to where he used to sit.
For the rest of the night, it was his childhood team that was caught looking.
Hicks struck out six across six one-hit innings in his first big league appearance in Houston, including three straight strikeouts looking in a dominant second inning that signaled his second year in orange and black might take on a much different tone.
There's striking out the side … and then there's what Jordan Hicks just did to the Astros in the second inning: pic.twitter.com/6bDuNwTbGk
Jeremy Pena, Cam Smith and Mauricio Dubón went down looking in succession, all watching 98 or 99 mph sinkers clip the edge of the zone. Patrick Bailey’s golden framing helped a bit, but for the most part this night was about Hicks, who had his best start as a big leaguer as the Giants beat the Astros 7-2.
“That’s a good one to build off in 2025,” Hicks said. “I’ll just stay right there.”
Hicks got off to a strong start in 2024, too, but this was something different. His fastball averaged 98 mph, nearly a full tick higher than his best average in any single game last season, his first as a starter. He hit 100 mph for the first time as a Giant and threw 13 pitches at 99 mph or above, three more than he had all of last season.
Hicks had more than 80 family members and friends in the seats, and that extra adrenaline certainly helped. But this is the Hicks the Giants have expected for months. President of baseball operations Buster Posey made it clear in the offseason and again at the start of camp that he viewed Hicks as a starter. Posey inherited the right-hander’s four-year contract and could have moved him back to the bullpen, especially with the depth the Giants have, but he felt good about Hicks’ offseason. General manager Zack Minasian and manager Bob Melvin did, too.
The second inning alone validated all those offseason hopes, but Hicks kept it going. He repeatedly hit 99 mph in the sixth as he reached his predetermined pitch count.
“It’s what he did when he was closing, he’s just doing it for a longer period of time now,” Melvin said. “I think that’s one of the things he’s kind of figuring out now. It’s, go as hard as he can for as long as he can. That’s what he’s been successful doing in the past and it’s just [about making] sure you’re conditioned to pitch deeper into games.”
Hicks spent the offseason working out in San Francisco and packed on 15 pounds from the end of last season. The Giants won’t know for several months if that offseason work truly leads to more longevity for a pitcher who slammed into a wall last summer, but they’re confident that Hicks can give the rotation 150 or so innings this time around.
Hicks started with six that were spectacular, leading the Giants to a third win in four games on this trip. He said he’s right where he hoped to be at the start of the season, and he’s eager to build off Monday’s performance.
It was a perfect return to his hometown. Well, almost perfect.
Hicks always imagined himself pitching on this mound, he just thought it would have a different name. For more than two decades, it did.
“I’ve never even thrown out of the bullpen here, so it was really nice to have all of the family come out and for them to experience it,” he said. “I was more excited when it was still Minute Maid Park, but now they changed to Daikin, so I guess we’ve just got to live with it. But I grew up coming here and it was special to be on the field where I used to watch all the old ball games. It was a pretty special moment.”
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
On the latest episode of "Baseball Bar-B-Cast," hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz delved into the recent struggles of Roki Sasaki, the talented pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"[Sasaki] was awful. Worse than he looked in Japan," Mintz said. "The fastball command was abysmal. He was missing arm-side with the heater, particularly to lefties. Just couldn't figure it out. And he was clearly frazzled throughout the entire outing."
For Mintz, it boils down to one thing: "He's not ready for this right now."
The podcast discussion revolved around the Dodgers' strategy in developing Sasaki, given the high expectations for him after his move from Japan. Mintz and Shusterman debated the pros and cons of keeping him in the major leagues versus sending him to Triple-A to work on his command in a less pressurized environment.
As Mintz put it, "The Dodgers can afford for Roki to figure this out at the big-league level. That is part of what they pitched to him. They're so talented, so deep that he can go out there and throw up stinkers and work on stuff and effectively use a big-league game as a minor-league development experience. And they can still win.
"But is that what's best for his development right now? I'm not sure."
While the Dodgers' deep and talented roster affords them the flexibility to let Sasaki to develop at the highest level, there's a valid argument to give him an opportunity to refine his skills and build confidence in Oklahoma City, away from the bright lights of L.A., which could, in turn, be more beneficial for his long-term development.
What's more, as Shusterman pointed out, the Dodgers have so many other options that their rotation is not reliant on Sasaki at this point in time.
"They did not need to fast-track Roki in this way," he said. "They didn't. Not only because they can obviously win without him, but literally they have so many other pitchers that are more than good enough to fill in his spot."
While Mintz made the argument that the only way Sasaki is going to learn to pitch in the big leagues is to continue pitching in the big leagues, Shusterman disagreed.
"I don't know if just continuing to roll that out in the big leagues is actively helping," he said. "And I think that there is a version where five starts in Oklahoma City, in front of fewer people, against worse hitters, where he can actually work on things, will put him in a position to come back and be more prepared to succeed. But either way, he does not look like a pitcher that is being put in a position to succeed. That is the simplest way to put it."
After pitching first in the Tokyo Series and then on opening weekend at home, Sasaki could certainly use an easy outing, but his next scheduled start is against the Phillies. Pitching in a notoriously tough environment such as Philly will no doubt add an additional challenge that will further test Sasaki's resilience and adaptability.
"You could say, 'Why are you babying this guy?'" Shusterman pondered. "But he's a baby! He's not making $300 million. He's making the minimum, and he's 23. ... And yes, he is one of the most talented players to ever come from Japan, but if you don't think he's a finished product, if you clearly know that he has stuff to work on, why are we pretending like he's already your No. 2 starter? That's what I don't get that."
Keep an eye on Sasaki, as his journey will continue to be one to watch — not only because of his immense talent but also to see how the Dodgers manage his development moving forward.
Ben Stokes is not expected to play in the early rounds of the County Championship as he battles to be fit to lead England, his Durham coach Ryan Campbell said on Monday.
The flood of NCAA players signing their entry-level NHL contracts has begun.
The Frozen Four begins on April 10, so we should see a couple more players signing after then, but a handful of prospects are jumping from the NCAA to the NHL right now after being eliminated.
Some of the most promising and exciting prospects in hockey have come through the NCAA pipeline in recent years. This year’s crop of signees will be effective on teams that are either securely in the playoffs, pushing for a wild-card spot or sitting near the bottom of the league and looking forward to the future.
Let’s look at some of the most promising entry-level signings from the NCAA in recent days.
Ryan Leonard, LW, Washington Capitals
The bull in a china shop that is Ryan Leonard has been one of the most physically dominant players in the NCAA over the past couple of years.
His speed, strength, and legitimate skill make him a player who can play up and down the lineup at the NHL level. He was the engine of Boston College's top line alongside 2025 top NHL draft prospect James Hagens and Gabe Perreault, who's expected to sign with the New York Rangers.
Leonard should slot into the Capitals' middle six forwards and provide some energy and scoring punch down the lineup for their playoff run. Even if his offensive game takes a minute to get going, his speed and tenacity should make him a valuable part of the lineup.
Gabe Perreault, RW, New York Rangers
The Rangers announced they officially signed Perreault at 5 p.m. ET on Monday.
Perreault is one of the premier play connectors who came through the NHL draft in recent years. He’ll be playing with new linemates for the first time in three years – he won’t have either Leonard or Will Smith alongside him as he did going back to his days in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.
Perreault isn’t the fastest, most skilled or strongest player, but his value comes from his intellect and cerebral playmaking ability.
Perreault is highly effective as an off-puck attacker who can make a quick pass or get himself into a scoring area with ease. Whether he makes a one-touch pass or waits the extra half-second to allow a lane to develop on a zone entry, Perreault is such a smart player who allows his teammates to play to their strengths.
He’s consistently played a steady middle-six game whenever he’s been asked, but he’s skilled enough offensively to drive results when asked to play up the lineup. Moore is a fantastic fit for this Blackhawks team, which is looking for some added team speed.
The rest of the Hawks’ season means little in the standings, but Moore could make a strong case for a roster spot next year with a good run of play.
His versatility could see him stick on the wing for now, but Moore’s two-way game and pace make him more of a fit at center. Either way, Moore should be a fixture in the middle six for Chicago for years.
Matthew Wood, C/W, Nashville Predators
Although Wood didn’t become a dominant player during his two-year college run, he joins the Predators as they play out the stretch of a lost season.
Wood is a big-bodied forward who is an excellent off-puck finisher. He’s grown as a playmaker in the NCAA. His last month of the season with the University of Minnesota was as good as he’s been in college, and it should give him confidence heading into the NHL.
While he shouldn’t be expected to hit the ground running, especially on a Preds team where nothing has gone right this year, Wood should be a nice addition that provides a glimpse into the future. The 6-foot-4 Albertan could play down the lineup as a center or a left winger.
Wood has the skill and shooting talent to score some goals. He just needs someone to help him get the puck in good positions.
Jimmy Snuggerud, RW, St. Louis Blues
After setting career highs in goals and points in the NCAA, Snuggerud joins the Blues in the thick of a playoff race.
He doesn’t necessarily drive play, but he is an excellent Robin to someone’s Batman. He plays with speed and energy, finds open space in the offensive zone and helps make life easier on his linemates by doing a little bit of everything.
Snuggerud is slated to line up on the third line for the Blues, which could give them the depth scoring they need to pull away in the playoff race.
Snuggerud has always found a way to elevate his game as the stakes get higher, whether it's the World Junior Championship or the NCAA tournament.
Sam Rinzel, D, Chicago Blackhawks
Like Moore, Rinzel got into his first NHL game already, and he looked quite solid. He has size, skating ability and some skill, which immediately makes him one of the Hawks' more intriguing blueliners.
Rinzel has the kind of reach and mobility that it takes to play a solid defensive game and the passing and skill to play well enough in the offensive end.
Rinzel will make some mistakes, but the experience he gains in this season's final days could spur him on to being a regular in the lineup in the fall. His raw tools have always been incredibly intriguing, and his development in college has been encouraging. Getting a glimpse of pro hockey will be integral as he heads into a summer training to be a full-time pro.
While the news itself could have been worse, it feels like this drops the curtain on the Phoenix Suns' season.
Kevin Durant is going to miss at least a week due to the sprained ankle he suffered in a blowout loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, reports Shams Charania of ESPN. That implies this is a Grade 1 sprain, which usually sidelines a player for 1-2 weeks. Durant is not with the team and will be out for a critical three-game road trip for Phoenix against Milwaukee, Boston and New York.
Here’s a closer look at the ankle injury Kevin Durant just suffered:
There is a chance Durant could return for the final games of the regular season and the play-in, but will they need him to?
This injury feels like the final nail in the coffin of the Suns' season. It may well mean we've seen Durant's last game in a Suns uniform.
After a four-game win streak that sparked hope this Suns roster was invested and turning things around, Phoenix has dropped three in a row, two of those games by 30+ (the other, to Denver, by "just" 15). This looks like a team that has let go of the rope. Phoenix is 1.5 games back of Sacramento for the No. 10 seed and final play-in spot in the West with seven games to go, and the next three of those games are a brutal road trip the Suns will take without Durant. The only thing keeping the Suns close is that the Kings are falling apart as well, but neither looks like a team ready to make a push and advance out of the play-in and into the eight-team playoffs.
It's time for the Suns' front office and coaching staff to consider shutting things down rather than risk further injuries to stars, as much as that is against the ethos of owner Mat Ishbia. Bradley Beal has missed the last seven games and has yet to be cleared to play 5-on-5, there is no timetable for his return. Durant is now out. Devin Booker likely plays in every game on this road trip, and he's not going to want to be sat for games, but it's time for the Suns to discuss sitting him and giving a larger role to Collin Gillespie and rookie Ryan Dunn (as well as rookie Oso Ighodaro) and see what they can do with it.
What are the Suns playing for at this point? This season has been a massive disappointment, it's better to get to the offseason and retool the roster (likely with a Durant trade).
The Bronx Bombers now have torpedoes in their arsenal.
The New York Yankees officially launched the “torpedo bat” era over the weekend — with multiple players using a modified baseball bat during the team’s historic offensive onslaught in its opening series of the 2025 season.
The wood of the bat is shifted from the barrel towards the batter’s hands to create a custom sweet spot where contact is most frequently made. The reconfiguration gives the bat the shape of a torpedo — or a bowling pin, which doesn’t sound nearly as menacing or apropos.
Because the Yankees hit bombs with them.
Nine of their MLB record-tying 15 home runs hit in their first three games were used by five players using torpedo bats, including six of a franchise-record nine homers in Saturday’s 20-9 rout over the Milwaukee Brewers.
“I think the advantage is that you’re more likely to make a reasonable contact,” Dave Savage, a physics teacher in Oregon, told NBC Local. “So…you’ve increased your chances. And then the closer you can get to dead center of that sweet spot where the bat is the largest, most massive, that is going to be your largest exchange of momentum.”
It wasn’t the first time torpedo bats were used in the major leagues, but the Yankees’ offensive outburst helped put the torpedoes on baseball’s radar.
Some social media users and baseball purists — and at least one opposing player – then returned fire, saying the bats should be outlawed.
The bats, however, are legal under MLB’s rules. And more teams are now looking to add torpedo bats to their own arsenal.
What is a torpedo bat?
Mike Stobe/Getty Images
The torpedo bat belonging to Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
The torpedo bat is a custom-shaped baseball bat with a modified barrel that’s tailored to maximize the contact tendencies of the batter.
Wood is shifted from the end of the barrel to a location closer to the hands, making the bat widest at the spot where the batter most often makes contact with the ball.
That reshaping and relocation of the sweet spot gives the bat the appearance of a torpedo.
Much of the recent credit for the implementation of the torpedo bat has gone to Aaron Leanhardt, a former Yankees front-office staffer who is now the Miami Marlins’ field coordinator.
Leanhardt, a former physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said the idea developed in 2022 while he was working with the Yankees’ minor-league hitting department.
Yes, the Yankees have a literal genius MIT Physicist, Lenny (who is the man), on payroll. He invented the “Torpedo” barrel. It brings more wood – and mass – to where you most often make contact as a hitter. The idea is to increase the number of “barrels” and decrease misses. pic.twitter.com/CsC1wkAM9G
The 48-year-old Leanhardt, who holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan and a Ph.D. in physics from MIT, previously coached baseball in the Atlantic League and at a Montana community college, per The Athletic. He became the Yankees’ major league analyst in 2024, and players within the organization soon began using torpedo bats in regular-season games.
“Really, it’s just about making the bat as heavy and as fat as possible in the area where you’re trying to do damage on the baseball,” he told The Athletic.
YES Network play-by-play announcer Michael Kay said during Saturday’s broadcast that the Yankees’ analytics department had performed a study on shortstop Anthony Volpe showing he frequently hit the ball on the label of his bat, rather than on the barrel.
So, using Leanhardt’s design, the sweet spot of Volpe’s bat was moved from the barrel to the label.
Michael Kay explains that the Yankees made new bats "where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball."
The Yankees requested sample models of the torpedo style from some of MLB’s 41 approved bat manufacturers, according to ESPN. The model numbers for the spec bats started with “BP” for bowling pin, a more accurate comp for the bat’s new shape.
“Torpedo sounds kind of cooler,” Leanhardt told ESPN.
Louisville Slugger said four teams have requested torpedo style bats from the company over the past 18 months.
“Teams are analyzing every single at bat by every player, then charting the part of the bat where each player is making contact with the ball,” the company said Monday in a statement. “Based on the location of the majority of a player’s contact on the barrel, teams are asking us to shift the weight of the barrel and sweet spot to accommodate each hitter.”
What is MLB’s bat rule?
The torpedo bats do not violate MLB’s rules, which state under 3.02: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.”
It goes on to state there may be a cupped indentation up to 1 1/4 inches in depth, 2 inches wide and with at least a 1-inch diameter, and experimental models must be approved by MLB.
When was a torpedo bat first used?
Giancarlo Stanton might be remembered as the player who officially launched MLB’s first torpedo.
Multiple players, including Volpe, experimented with the torpedo bat last season. But it was Stanton who used one to hit seven home runs in 14 postseason games during the Yankees’ run to the 2024 World Series, per ESPN.
Following that success, torpedo bat models were made available to members of the Yankees during spring training.
Five members of the Yankees’ lineup adopted torpedo bats during their 2025 opening series, crushing a combined nine home runs: Jazz Chisholm Jr. (three), Volpe (two), Austin Wells (two), Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger (one), who said he experimented with a torpedo bat during batting practice last season.
Their Yankee teammate and reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge hit four home runs over the first three games of the season, but he did so with a traditional bat.
Which teams use torpedo bats?
The Yankees aren’t the only team using torpedo bats.
Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and the Rays’ Junior Caminero and Yandy Díaz used them in Spring Training and during the opening weekend of the regular season, per ESPN. Davis Schneider of the Toronto Blue Jays uses one. MLB.com reported that members of the Baltimore Orioles have experimented with them. As did the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs in spring training, according to the New York Times.
And more torpedos are now on a collision course with the league.
Tons of requests are coming in for the Torpedo Bat, says MC Huntsberry of Marucci Sports, big Torpedo bat supplier. No surprise there!
Some pitchers, however, might view the use of torpedo bats in the same way batters once viewed the pitching mound being elevated.
“I think it’s terrible,” Brewers closer Trevor Megill told the New York Post after watching his team surrender 15 home runs to the Yankees. “We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. I feel like it’s something used in slow-pitch softball.
“It’s genius: Put the mass all in one spot. It might be bush (league). It might not be. But it’s the Yankees, so they’ll let it slide.”
HOUSTON — Giants starter Jordan Hicks had to wait seven seasons, 242 appearances and 29 starts to finally appear in his hometown. He pitched in 29 other ballparks before taking the mound at what is now called Daikin Park. It was worth the wait.
In front of nearly 100 family members and friends, the Houston native had the most dominant start of his MLB career, allowing just one hit over six innings and showing eye-popping velocity as the Giants cruised to a 7-2 win over the Houston Astros on Monday. San Francisco is 3-1 and will try to clinch a winning trip on Tuesday behind ace Logan Webb.
The only hit Hicks allowed was a single by Christian Walker in the first inning, but he followed that by retiring 14 straight. Hicks was sharp for about two months last season before running out of gas. He put on 15 pounds in the offseason, and the Giants believe a big season is ahead. The early returns couldn’t have been more encouraging.
Here are three things to know from the Giants’ third win of the 2025 MLB season:
Lighting It Up
It would be easy to attribute Hicks’ velocity bump to the adrenaline that might have come with pitching in his hometown, but this was what the Giants would have expected Monday in any ballpark. Manager Bob Melvin said before the game that the plan for Hicks this year is to “go after it” instead of pacing himself in starts. The Giants don’t mind if he runs into a wall a bit earlier if the results are there, but on Monday they got the best of both worlds.
Hicks was so economical that he needed just 58 pitches to get through five, and despite walking a batter in the sixth, he strolled off at 72 pitches, 73 percent of which were fastballs. He had some dominant starts last April, but this was easily his best velocity as a Giant.
Hicks averaged 98 mph with his sinker, nearly a full tick up from last season’s best of 97.1 mph, which also came in his first start of the year. He topped out at 100 mph and hit 99 mph on 13 pitches after doing it just 10 total times all of 2024.
Small Ball
The Giants stole three bases without being caught, repeatedly taking advantage of the fact that Astros starter Ronel Blanco wasn’t holding runners at first. They had just five three-steal games all of last season, but through four games they’re definitely showing that they might finally be willing to force the issue a bit. They’re a perfect 5-for-5 so far on the bases.
It wasn’t just the steals that stood out. In the fifth, Mike Yastrzemski singled, stole second, went to third on Tyler Fitzgerald’s perfect bunt down the third base line, and scored on a sacrifice fly by LaMonte Wade Jr. It was an aggressive send by Matt Williams, but Yastrzemski got in safely with an athletic slide.
All The Way Back
Wilmer Flores had four homers all of last season, which was cut short by knee discomfort that hampered him all year. He’s healthy once again, and he looks exactly like the player who led the lineup in 2023.
Flores jumped on an elevated slider from Luis Contreras in the sixth and broke the game open with a soaring three-run shot into the Crawford Boxes in left. He’s tied for the league lead with eight RBI and is tied for second in the NL with three homers.
The San Francisco-era franchise record for homers over the first four games is five (by Barry Bonds, of course), and Willie Mays twice had four in his first four games. Flores joined Evan Longoria, Brandon Belt and Kevin Mitchell, all of whom had a season with three homers in their first four games.
A sparkling debut performance by medium pacer Ashwani Kumar helped IPL powerhouses Mumbai Indians register their first win of the season on Monday, downing Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.
The Yankees announced on Monday afternoon that they have re-signed the first baseman/outfielder to a minor league contract.
Smith, originally a first-round pick by the Mets, played with the Yankees this spring, putting up strong numbers in Grapefruit League action. In 13 games, Smith slashed .297/.289/.568 with three home runs and 12 RBI.
While it seemed like Smith may have a chance to make the team, he ended up exercising the opt out in his contract, hoping another club would sign him to a major league contract.
But Smith is now back with the Yankees organization, and he could be an option to be called up if the Yankees need another left-handed hitting option on the 26-man roster.
In 693 career big league games, Smith has 64 home runs and 259 RBI, posting an OPS of .716.
(This article was written with the assistance of Castmagic, an AI tool, and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy. Please reach out to us if you notice any mistakes.)
These bats boast a distinct design with a bulbous, wider barrel reminiscent of a bowling pin, spurring many fans into debate about their legality and potential benefits. As Mintz explained, “These bats appear larger but within regulation. They redistribute weight and adjust the sweet spot, possibly aiding in better contact.”
The narrative quickly went viral, with some attributing the Yankees’ explosive performance to these torpedo bats. However, Shusterman was quick to point out the context: "Are these bats really magic, or were the Brewers’ pitchers just really bad?”
Aaron Judge, it should be noted, didn't use a torpedo bat, while teammates including Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt did. "I think my track record speaks for itself," Judge said after his own incredible, four-homer weekend at the plate.
Also, it wasn't just Yankees using these bats over the weekend. As the hosts pointed out, Francisco Lindor of the Mets, Ryan Jeffers of the Twins and Junior Caminero of the Rays all used the bats this weekend.
As Mintz said, "Even though the Yankees were getting all the hype, it does appear that this is more than just a Bronx situation."
Shusterman further speculated on whether these bats might represent a small shift away from pitching dominance in MLB. Pitchers have enjoyed a technological and tactical edge over hitters in recent years, leading to increased strikeouts and fewer balls in play. Could these uniquely designed bats help restore balance? Maybe, but both hosts advised caution.
“If a bat just helps players hit the ball more often and effectively, that’s a good thing for baseball,” Shusterman said. Yet, he added, “These aren’t turning every ball into a home run. It’s not the bat. It’s bigger than that.”
The Yankees might have ignited this latest trend, but Mintz suggested that other teams will likely experiment with such designs, if they aren't doing so already.
"It does sound like around the league this is something that other teams have already been experimenting with. But it seems like the Yankees were the first team to break through and give it a try, in terms of the players that are at the major-league level and willing to give it a shot," he said. “If the Yankees can get players to buy in to these changes, other teams won’t be far behind."
As the league moves forward, fans and analysts will be keenly watching whether these torpedo bats become a standard tool for MLB hitters or remain a quirky sidebar from the Yankees’ early season success.
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