SAN DIEGO — Tyler Fitzgerald brought two torpedo bats with him to San Diego. They both died noble deaths.
In the fifth inning of Tuesday’s 7-4 loss to the San Diego Padres, Patrick Bailey and Fitzgerald strung together back-to-back singles with Fitzgerald’s torpedo-shaped models — both of which shattered.
Fitzgerald’s inventory is down to zero for the time being, but he will receive a shipment from Louisville Slugger in several weeks. Bailey is ordering two of his own as well.
“It’s going to take a few weeks, but I have six more coming in. Going to be a while,” Fitzgerald said.
Fitzgerald was the first Giants player to utilize a torpedo bat, which is characterized by its abnormal shape. Torpedo bats are custom-made, sculpted based on where an individual player most frequently makes contact. Despite their odd appearance, the bats are completely allowable under MLB rules.
The torpedo bats became a point of debate when the New York Yankees hit 15 home runs in a season-opening three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, most coming from players who used torpedo bats. Those debates have largely quieted in recent weeks, especially with the Yankees returning to a normal home run pace.
“It’s a trendy thing right now. If the Yankees don’t put up 20 runs in that game, this isn’t even a discussion. Anything to give the hitter a little more of an advantage, I’m all for,” Fitzgerald said earlier this month.
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Last Friday, Fitzgerald’s first shipment of two bats finally arrived. He tried them out during batting practice, then liked them enough to use them in a game that same day.
He went 0-for-3 in his debut with the bats last Friday against the Texas Rangers, then was out of action on Saturday and Sunday due to a chest contusion. On Tuesday, Bailey and Fitzgerald produced the first shipment’s first two — and final two – hits.
