The legend of the “torpedo bat” grows.
Elly De La Cruz had what will surely stand as one of the best individual games of the 2025 MLB season Monday while leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 14-3 win over the Texas Rangers.
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The third-year rising star finished Monday 4 of 5 at the plate with two home runs, seven RBI and a steal. It was a strong day at the office by any account that may or may not have come with an assist from his equipment.
De La Cruz confirmed after the game that he played Monday with a “torpedo bat.” It was the first time he’s ever used one in a game.
Here is Elly De La Cruz and his just-flipped “torpedo bat.” (Jeff Dean/Getty Images)
(Jeff Dean via Getty Images)
In case you’ve somehow missed it, the “torpedo bat” rocketed to instant stardom over the weekend when the Yankees launched 15 home runs in three games against the Brewers as more than half the lineup used them. Players across MLB have since joined the party, including De La Cruz on Monday night. Here are some of the results:
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Facing a 1-1 count in the second inning, De La Cruz launched a rocket over the center-field wall off a Kumar Rocker slider over the plate.
De La Cruz’s blast doubled Cincinnati’s lead to 6-0.
Then in the seventh inning, De La Cruz hit another one. This one, off a Gerson Garabito fastball, traveled 436 feet over the right-centerfield wall and was launched at 110.2 mph off De La Cruz’s bat.
That homer extended Cincinnati’s lead to 14-0. The home runs were the first and second for De La Cruz in four games this season.
De La Cruz, of course, is one of baseball’s most talented young players. He hit 25 home runs last season and has previously proven capable of launching mammoth blasts. He was asked for his assessment of the bat after the game.
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“It feels good,” De La Cruz told reporters when asked about the bat. “It feels really good.”
Yeah, it feels good.
Did the “torpedo bat” have anything to do with his performance? Nobody knows yet. The sample size is too small.
But the returns through the first few days of the MLB season are compelling. And De La Cruz appears ready to keep the torpedo bat in his arsenal. Just check out his response at the end of this video when asked if he’s going to use it again.
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