What exactly is a torpedo bat? How does it help hitters? And how is it legal? Let's dig in. Read:An MIT-educated professor, the Yankees and the bat that could be changing baseball

Among the Yankees hitters who are using it, Anthony Volpe is a model for poor hitters who might see the torpedo bat as hope of becoming a good hitter. He's gained nearly 2 mph in average bat speed and 0.8 mph in average exit velocity.

Developed by a physicist, these bats have their widest part, called the barrel, closer to the player's hands to offer a better chance of hitting the ball on their "sweet spot"

Tucci is the founder and owner of Tucci bats, one of the preferred wooden bat manufacturers among major league players, so he is accustomed to being on call to hitters who are certain a slight shift will make the difference.

Torpedo bats are just the latest innovation in the design of baseball bats, some of which stuck, and others which ... did not.