ANN ARBOR, Mich. – As the Major League Baseball season begins, fans are energized about their teams’ chances of making a run for the World Series.
With 30 teams in the league, not all have realistic expectations of winning a title this season.
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The usual contenders are the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers, the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Texas Rangers, the Atlanta Braves, the Houston Astros, and the New York Yankees.
| Major League Baseball teams | 2025 World Series Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +240 |
| Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees | +900 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1100 |
| New York Mets | +1200 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +1600 |
| Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros | +1800 |
| Texas Rangers | +2200 |
| Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres | +3000 |
| Cleveland Guardians | +3500 |
| Kansas City Royals | +4000 |
| Milwaukee Brewers, Tampa Bay Rays | +5000 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +6600 |
| Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants | +8000 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals | +12500 |
| Athletics, Washington Nationals | +20000 |
| Los Angeles Angels | +25000 |
| Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Miami Marlins | +50000 |
The Yankees, in particular, have been making headlines after a strong start, scoring 36 runs in their first three games against the Milwaukee Brewers.
During the three-game series, the Yankees drew attention by hitting 15 home runs and recording 35 RBI.
This impressive feat tied an MLB record, thanks in part to their new “Torpedo Bat,” introduced by Aaron Leanhardt, a former University of Michigan physics professor who coached with the Yankees last season.
The uniquely shaped bats, resembling bowling pins, have stirred excitement in the baseball community, primarily since four of the Yankees’ nine batters used the Torpedo Bat during the opening week of the 2025 season.
Leanhardt’s journey to the majors began as a minor league hitting coordinator with the Yankees before he transitioned to a field coordinator role with the Miami Marlins in the 2025 offseason.
While with the Yankees, Leanhardt sought feedback from players on how to enhance the team’s offense.
The consensus was clear: players needed to make contact with the barrel of the bat more consistently.
Leveraging his physics background, Leanhardt and his team adjusted the weight distribution of the bats, moving some weight from the end toward the thicker part of the bat, which is crucial for generating solid contact.
The Michigan Wolverines graduate told players that every bat has a wood budget, typically around 31 or 32 ounces, which must be distributed over a specific length.
The redesigned bat shifted weight from the tip toward the area six to seven inches below the barrel of the bat, where major leaguers commonly make contact.
This adjustment made the thicker part of the bat closer to the handle, tapering toward a smaller diameter, similar to a bowling pin.
Okay explanation the barrel is bigger and within mlb regulation! For the idiots that say it’s moved to the label you’re an idiot! Nobody is trying to get jammed you just move the wood from the parts you don’t use to the parts you do! You’re welcome no more stress for y’all !
— Jazz Chisholm Jr (@j_chisholm3) March 31, 2025
Players for the Yankees using the Torpedo Bat include Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger, and Paul Goldschmidt.
Other players across the league have also adopted this innovative bat, including Adley Rutschman (Baltimore Orioles), Jose Trevino (Cincinnati Reds), Dansby Swanson (Chicago Cubs), Nico Hoerner (Chicago Cubs), Ryan Jeffers (Minnesota Twins), Francisco Lindor (New York Mets), Junior Caminero (Tampa Bay Rays), and Davis Schneider (Toronto Blue Jays).
As the excitement around this new bat technology grows, it will be interesting to see how many players continue to use Leanhardt’s creation by the time of the MLB All-Star break.
