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.
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.