Reds star Elly De La Cruz is the latest convert, hitting two home runs and knocking in seven runs in his first game with the unique bat.

But it also makes it more susceptible to gusts of wind mid-swing, the Weather Channel claims. A traditional bat, heavier at the end, has more inertia and may be better at cutting through crosswinds. A torpedo bat, by contrast, could be thrown slightly off track by sudden resistance, especially during aggressive hacks.

The torpedo bat's rise has changed the industry for the companies that make them. Here is one bat-maker's story.