Baseball fans are convinced that the New York Yankees’ record-setting day against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday afternoon was too good to be true.
Fans of the Pinstripes were treated to a special day in the Bronx, with the New York Yankees hitting a franchise record nine (!) home runs in their 20-9 route of the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium.
Reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge led the way with three home runs and eight RBI. Former Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortés, making his Brewers debut, lasted just two innings and allowed six hits, eight earned runs and five walks.
During the broadcast, fans noticed that the Yankees were using bats with different designs from the standard ones. Pinstripes Play-by-play commentator Michael Kay discussed the changes the team made to their bats:
“The Yankees front office’s analytics department did a study on (Volpe). Every single ball it seemed like he hit on the label, he didn’t hit any on the barrel, so they had bats made up where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so that the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.”
Well this is wild…
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 29, 2025
The Yankees made new bats that moved more of the wood into the label so the hardest part of the bat strikes the ball.
They have 8 home runs today. pic.twitter.com/CH2cOmvOh8
Though the New York Yankees were simply playing by the rules, many disgruntled fans accused the defending AL Champions of cheating:
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“Allowing beards and we cheating. Yankees finally playing modern day baseball. This the year we get 28! 😤,” one fan wrote.
Allowing beards and we cheating. Yankees finally playing modern day baseball. This the year we get 28! 😤
— 𝔻𝕠𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕔𝕜 🎧 𝕍𝕚𝕘𝕘𝕚𝕒𝕟𝕠 𝕏 (@dj_viggi) March 29, 2025
“MLB figured out how to get back to Sosa / McGwire days,” said another.
MLB figured out how to get back to Sosa / McGwire days.
— J. Kosh (@JaisonKoshy) March 29, 2025
“How is this different than corking a bat which is illegal?” asked a fan.
How is this different than corking a bat which is illegal?
— Steve (@thediiscast) March 30, 2025
“Completely illegal. You can only change the paint, finish, length and weight of a bat,” wrote another.
“classy Yankees cheating,” a fan quipped.
classy Yankees cheating https://t.co/xhxAU4UZfM
— Miguel (@M1gueII) March 29, 2025
“Cheating with a loophole. Go figure for them Yankees. Something that will be kept sealed up in an Envelope by our commissioner,” said another.
Cheating with a loophole. Go figure for them Yankees. Something that will be kept sealed up in an Envelope by our commissioner.
— Rockets 🚀 2nd in the West #LiftOff 🤘🏽 (@RobLo_Xero) March 29, 2025
An MLB spokesperson told Chris Kirschner of The Athletic that the Yankees followed the rulebook fairly. MLB Rule 3.02 states as follows:
“The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.” It also notes that “experimental” bats can’t be used “until the manufacturer has secured approval from Major League Baseball of his design and methods of manufacture.”
Of course, one shouldn’t fully bet against the possibility of Commissioner Rob Manfred and the league office quickly stepping in and making the Yankees’ genius tactic illegal.
New York Yankees Aren’t Missing Juan Soto…So Far
The Yankees certainly don’t look like a team that’s missing Juan Soto, who left to sign with the rival New York Mets for a record $765 million over 15 years.
GM Brian Cashman brought in Cody Bellinger and Paul Goldschmidt to bolster the offense around Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. And so far, the Yankees clearly look like a team that won’t miss Soto at all.
Also Read: Red Sox Rumors: Former Yankees Star Is Predicted For A Reunion In Boston
