Could ‘torpedo bats’ fix Kansas City Royals offense? One player tried it in game
Torpedo bats have landed in the Kansas City Royals clubhouse.
On Friday, Royals outfielder Kyle Isbel sported the new lumber against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. In the second inning, Isbel stepped to the plate using a brown torpedo bat with a slightly enlarged barrel.
Isbel went 0 for 3 in the game. However, he felt comfortable adding the torpedo bat to his offensive arsenal.
“There are so many different models of bats right,” Isbel said. “I think there are a lot of different pitch shapes that you face. To me, it’s more of a balanced model. I tend to swing a more end-heavy bat against sinker guys and then, ride-cut guys, more like a balanced model. So, I was just curious to try.”
Isbel liked how the torpedo bat felt in his hands. His biggest impression was how balanced and smooth the bat felt through the strike zone. He worked with Victus Bats to specialize the lumber to his liking.
“I didn’t want it to be super extreme,” Isbel said. “I just wanted it to be more balanced really. It’s just where you are hitting the ball on certain pitches. Balls running away, you are probably going to hit pitches off the end. Pitches coming in, you are probably going to hit them closer to the label.”
Isbel initially used the torpedo bat in batting practice. He ordered the bats about four weeks ago after hearing about it in spring training.
There was curiosity from his teammates, too.
Royals outfielder MJ Melendez also received his own torpedo bat. He used it in the batting cage but didn’t feel comfortable with it.
“I never ordered any,” Melendez said. “Tucci (Lumber Bats) sent me one, and I tried it out yesterday. I would never use it, honestly.”
A few Royals agreed. Bobby Witt Jr. tested the bat alongside teammate Michael Massey prior to Friday’s game.
“I swung it in the cage,” Witt said. “It’s something I probably won’t use. It just depends on what guys need it for or whatever.”
Massey felt the bat was too top heavy. He plans to stick with his regular bat selection at the plate.
“I just wasn’t a huge fan of it,” Massey said.
Royals utilityman Cavan Biggio is willing to give the torpedo bats a second chance. He used Melendez’s bat, but didn’t like the model. He ordered his own Victus Bats model and will make a decision once they arrive.
“I don’t know if I’m going to like it,” Biggio said. “I like the bats I’m using now. I think it helps guys as the idea of it is to help guys that get jammed a lot. And you know, I use the end of the bat a lot, so I don’t know if it’s going to work out for me.”
The Royals are the latest MLB team to use torpedo bats — and they’ve been a topic of conversation in the clubhouse for some time. The New York Yankees popularized the bats earlier this season. The Yankees hit multiple home runs in their opening weekend series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
The league eventually took notice. According to MLB rules, a torpedo bat is legal and applicable to game play.
Isbel will continue to experiment with the torpedo bat in the upcoming days as the Royals continue their 10-game road trip.
“I like it,” Isbel said. “Obviously, that (Friday) was the first day that I tried it.”
This story was originally published April 12, 2025 at 5:34 PM.
