White Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi can’t escape the dialogue. It’s the most-discussed topic in baseball right now: torpedo bats.
Those heavier bats became all the rage after the Yankees blasted 15 homers over their first three games, including a 20-run explosion against the Brewers. The bat is from the mind of Marlins coach Aaron Leanhardt, who created the bat to improve a player’s chances at barreling balls and less whiffs. The Yankees have five players who homered with the unique bat (Jazz Chisholm Jr., Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt.
“I had never heard of it,” Benintendi said. “I’ve used the same bat for nine years, so I think I’ll stick with that.”
Benintendi said he believes more players will use the bat because of the Yankees’ success. He’s ambivalent as to if it’s good for the game. The bowling pin bat redistributes the weight from the end of the bat to six or seven inches below the tip — the area that allows hitters to make the most damage.
“I just wish I had a torpedo bat because there was a lot of contact on the label on my bat when I played,” manager Will Venable said. “But otherwise, I’ve heard things in the past about guys using it. I don’t have too many thoughts on it.”
Though Benintendi is going to eschew using the most popular bat in baseball, Benintendi is off to a better start than last season. Benintendi started off 3-for-32 at the plate last season and didn’t homer until April 27. Benintendi — who kicked his 100th career homer in Monday’s 9-0 win — already has two through the first four games.
“I think I either have to hit .300 or run some homers out and I think the pitching now is so good,” Benintendi said. “It’s not that I can’t hit .300, but I think it’s more attainable for me to hit for a little more slug than average.
Booser’s journey
Sox reliever Cam Booser never expected to make an Opening Day roster. But, at 32, there he stood on the field watching the flyover before the Sox’ Opening Day game against the Angels.
Booser retired in 2017 following a suspension for cannabis. After realizing he still had a potent fastball and a desire to pitch, he came out of retirement and signed with the Chicago Dogs in 2021. Following stints with the Diamondbacks’ minor-league affiliate and the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, he made his major league debut in 2024 with the Red Sox.
“I had stuff that I hadn’t dealt with for years,” Booser said. “So through my sobriety, I had to face all that and I didn’t have those substances to kind of lean back on. So it was tough, man, but it was a process I needed to go through to mature and realize who I was on the other end of it.”
Lynn retirement
Former starter Lance Lynn announced his retirement from MLB after 13 seasons. The two-time All-Star had a 4.23 ERA in 70 starts with the team.
He’s tossed 2,006 1/3 innings in his career, sixth-most among active pitchers. Lynn spent the majority of his career with the Cardinals.
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