Michael Kay explains why Anthony Volpe, Jazz Chisholm are hitting with newly shaped bats

The recent Yankees game against the Brewers at the Stadium showcased some interesting developments in the world of baseball bats. Jazz Chisholm and Anthony Volpe caught the attention of fans and broadcasters alike by using uniquely-shaped bats during the game.

The bats in question featured an unusually skinny end cap with a thick barrel positioned towards the handle, a design that raised eyebrows among spectators. YES broadcaster Michael Kay took the opportunity during the game to shed some light on the bats and the reason behind Chisholm and Volpe using them.

According to Kay, the Yankee front office’s analytics department conducted a study on Anthony Volpe’s hitting performance and found that he consistently made contact with the label of the bat rather than the barrel. In response to this discovery, the team had custom bats made with the wood shifted towards the label to ensure that the harder part of the bat would strike the ball.

Both Chisholm and Volpe managed to hit home runs during the game, contributing to the Yankees’ franchise-high nine home runs in their 20-9 victory over the Brewers. However, the unconventional design of the bats left some baseball fans questioning their effectiveness.

Despite the skepticism, the bats used by Chisholm and Volpe are within the regulations set by MLB. The official rulebook states that bats must be a smooth, round stick not exceeding 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and 42 inches in length, criteria that the bats in question meet.

As of the game on Saturday, Chisholm and Volpe are the only players known to have used these unique bats. Yankees center fielder Cody Bellinger was also noted to be using a slightly modified version of the differently-shaped bat during the game.

The use of these innovative bats has sparked discussions among baseball enthusiasts, with some questioning whether this new design could potentially revolutionize the way players approach hitting. Only time will tell if more players will adopt this unconventional bat design or if it remains a unique experiment within the Yankees’ lineup.