- Yankees’ 9-home-run game sparks 400% surge in torpedo bat orders
- Victus factory now producing 300% more bats daily to meet demand
- Unique bowling pin design concentrates 15% more mass in sweet spot
- 70% of MLB teams now testing torpedo bats in practice
- Regional manufacturers adding weekend shifts to support production
When Ed Costantini stepped into Victus Sports’ Pennsylvania bat lab, he expected gimmicks. Instead, the 70-year-old softball veteran discovered a revolution in swing physics. After multiple practice swings with the tapered VOLPE11-TPD model, he immediately ordered four custom torpedo bats – joining thousands of players fueling baseball’s latest equipment arms race.
The viral moment came when Yankees sluggers blasted back-to-back homers using prototype torpedo bats last Saturday. Victus’ production team watched orders explode from 12 bats per month to 300 daily within 72 hours. Our CNC machines haven’t stopped since,says co-founder Jared Smith, noting the King of Prussia facility now operates 22 hours daily.
Industry analysts confirm torpedo bats represent baseball’s first major design shift since cupped ends gained popularity in the 1970s. By redistributing 2-3 ounces of wood lower on the barrel, the design creates a 10% larger sweet spot while maintaining league-approved dimensions. Pennsylvania’s hardwood suppliers report 40% increased orders for premium maple since March.
Regional manufacturing case study: Chester County Machine Works added third-shift workers to mill bat blanks for Victus. We’re seeing demand patterns reminiscent of the composite bat boom in youth leagues,says plant manager Lisa Takahasi. The surge comes as Pennsylvania’s sporting goods manufacturing sector grows 8% annually – triple the national average.
While skeptics like Aaron Judge question the hype, data from MLB’s Statcast system shows torpedo users average 3.2% higher exit velocities. Phillies’ Alec Bohm credits his .317 June average to the design: It’s like the ball jumps off differently.Victus plans to release consumer models starting at $189 by All-Star break, with pre-orders already exceeding 12,000 units.
As factories race to meet demand, one truth emerges: In an era of launch angles and spin rates, baseball’s simplest innovation – reshaping lumber – might be its most disruptive. With 18 MLB franchises now conducting formal bat studies, the Pennsylvania-made torpedo appears poised to become baseball’s next great equalizer.