Several players on the New York Yankees have made headlines recently for using a newly designed bat during their season-opening series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The new design, often referred to as a “torpedo” bat, shifts the mass of the barrel closer to the hands rather than the traditional end placement.

The Yankees’ use of these innovative bats led to a record-breaking performance on Saturday, where they scored 20 runs in a blowout victory over the Brewers, hitting a franchise-record nine home runs. This extraordinary offensive display raised eyebrows, with Brewers relief pitcher Trevor Megill vocalizing his frustration over the new bat design.

“I think it’s terrible,” Megill told The New York Post, adding, “We’ll see what the data says. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It feels like something used in slo-pitch softball.” However, despite his criticism, he acknowledged the ingenuity of the design, calling it a “genius” idea, though he believed it might be “bush league.” Megill also noted that, since it was the Yankees using it, the league might let it slide.

Despite Megill’s strong opinion, the bat’s design adheres to MLB regulations. According to MLB Rule 3.02, a bat must be smooth and round, not exceed 2.61 inches in diameter at its thickest point, and not exceed 42 inches in length. Furthermore, “experimental” bats require approval from Major League Baseball before being used in official games.

While some Brewers players agreed with Megill’s concerns, others were intrigued by the new bat design. First baseman Rhys Hoskins expressed curiosity about the potential benefits, even suggesting that he had already contacted bat manufacturers to explore the possibility of having his own bat modeled after the “torpedo” design. “Just because it worked for somebody doesn’t mean it’ll work for everybody,” Hoskins said, but he seemed open to trying it for himself.

As the debate over the “torpedo” bat continues, it remains to be seen if it will become a common tool in MLB or if it will be quickly banned due to its controversial nature.