Ex-Physics professor Aaron Leanhardt is behind the torpedo bat being used by the Yankees in 2025
One of the most talked-about elements of the 2025 Major League Baseball season is the torpedo bat. The contentious baseball bat may soon become a standard piece of equipment for every club, even though it may not yet be a household name among baseball fans.
The Yankees torpedo bat is designed to improve a batter’s contact with the ball by shifting the weight distribution closer to the hands, instead of the traditional swell toward the barrel and the idea is simple but groundbreaking – placing more wood at a hitter’s unique sweet spot to maximize power and control.
Who is physicist Aaron Leanhardt, Marlins field coordinator and creator of the Yankees MLB 2025 baseball torpedo bat, bio, age and education
The torpedo bat, which bulks up the part of the barrel that is closer to the hands, has altered the design of the conventional baseball bat. More players make the most contact with the ball in this location. This bat has been the talk of Major League Baseball, especially when several New York Yankees were using the new design during their 20-9 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The man who created the torpedo bat is Miami Marlins field coordinator Aaron Leanhardt
He took the time to speak about it to the media just a couple minutes ago#Marlins @FishOnFirst pic.twitter.com/N6lI0Oy9JG
— Kevin Barral (@kevin_barral) March 31, 2025
Aaron Leanhardt, the man behind the design, has suddenly emerged as the Miami Marlins’ most popular staff member. Perhaps more fascinating than the changes he assisted in making with the torpedo bat is Leanhardt’s path to the top of the MLB headlines as a field coordinator and coach with the Miami Marlins.
Aaron earned a PhD from MIT and worked on a NASA-funded research team. He was Physics professor at Michigan for 7 years and then left academics (at 40 years old) to pursue baseball.
He started at Dawson Community College in Montana before becoming a minor league coach for the Yankees and then got moved to the big league club and was responsible for bridging the gap between the analytics department and the player.
• PHD from MIT
• Physics Professor
• Creator Of The Torpedo BatAaron Leanhardt changed the game 🔬⚾️ pic.twitter.com/hDtCunxtII
— Whistle (@WhistleSports) April 1, 2025
Prior to receiving a doctorate in physics from MIT, Aaron Leanhardt had gotten a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He then worked on a NASA-funded study that led scientists to cool sodium gas to the lowest temperature ever, as if that weren’t already amazing.
He even started working at the University of Michigan as a professor of physics. After leaving academia, the 48-year-old made a significant career change and joined the New York Yankees as a minor league coach in 2018.
Aaron Leanhardt, the mastermind behind the Yankees torpedo bats, has one of the craziest career pivots ever.
• Earned a PhD from MIT
• Worked on a NASA-funded research team
• Physics professor at Michigan for 7 yearsLeanhardt then left academics (at 40 years old) to pursue… pic.twitter.com/0DVPv241RV
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 31, 2025
Although Leanhardt’s torpedo bat hasn’t gained much traction, it’s evident from the responses that it has the potential to become a crucial piece of gear in the future. Aaron Leanhardt’s torpedo bat has been a steadfast ally of Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees may be the biggest advocate of the new design, even though many players have either been using the bat or have indicated an interest in trying it out in the future.
With a stellar.417 batting average, three home runs, and six RBI in 12 at-bats this season, the Bahamian slugger has been scorching at the plate thus far. It will be intriguing to observe whether Jazz Chisholm Jr. can have an All-Star season with the bat modifications done.
On Rate My Professor students at UMich say Aaron Leanhardt it good at explaining complex topics https://t.co/QN68nioSLI pic.twitter.com/HMoOMtSuP6
— Erica Block (@EricaDaleBlock) February 29, 2024