Baseball Hall of Fame Fergie Jenkins took part in an ongoing debate over the use of torpedo bats that have smashed the Big League into the storm after a strong outing over the opening weekend of the New York Yankees.
When he appeared on Outkick's “The Ricky Cobb Show,” 82-year-old Jenkins discussed how torpedo bats could become the latest innovation in the sport and prefer bats.
“Well, looking back at the game when I played in the '60s, '70s, '80s, pitchers were pretty much dominant. Now they were like a second-rate citizen. Everything was done for the batters.
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After being featured at the 2016 MLB Hall of Fame Ceremony held at Clark Sports Centre on July 24, 2016, Hall of Fame Fergin Jenkins unfolded. (Gregory J. Fisher/USA TODAY SPORTS)
Jenkins said in addition to changing rules and supporting batsmen, torpedo bats are just the latest in baseball.
“I think the batters have more striking surfaces and there could be a bit more batting average, but the ball could have better pieces of wood and the ball might move a little more,” he said.
“Who knows? There's some extra base hits and now one batter is watching one of his teammates use it. Now he wants to use it. Before every star break, it's possible to believe that every ball club has a half dozen batters using that torpedo bat.”
The torpedo bats took the MLB by storm. what are they?
Former Chicago Cubs pitcher Fergie Jenkins will throw a ceremonial first pitch before a game between the Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds on August 11, 2022 at Field of Dreams Baseball Stadium in Dyersville, Iowa. (image)
The overall striking surface does not increase with a torpedo bat, but the barrel of the bat moves to another location. The goal of shifting the barrel is to move the thickest part of the bat to where the player has the most contact.
Jenkins said players using torpedoes can see the number increase.
“The batting average might look at another 20 points on each player's batting average. Instead of them hitting .255, .260, it could be .280,” Jenkins said.
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Fergie Jenkins will catch a ritual first pitch on October 28, 2023 between the Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks before Game 2023 in the 2023 World Series. (Kevin Jairaj/USA Today Sports)
The New York Yankees designated batter Giancarlo Stanton this season while the bats took baseball by storm.
Jenkins, who pitched from 1965 to 1983, did not have to deal with new rules in his time. He pitched to the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies over his 19-year career.
Jenkins won the Cubs at the 1971 NL Cy Young and was named three All-Stars.
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