It only took the Yankees two games in 2025 to live up to their “Bronx Bombers” nickname.
New York’s offense dominated against the Brewers on Saturday afternoon, leading to a 20-9 victory and 2-0 start to the new season.
The defending AL champs set a new franchise record for home runs in a single game, including a three-homer performance from Aaron Judge. During the game, however, Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay threw in a tidbit of information that made the barrage of long balls more interesting: New York was using new bats in Saturday’s game.
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Here’s what to know about the Yankees’ redesigned bats, plus the details of their historic home run total against Milwaukee.
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Yankees bats, explained
During the second inning of Saturday’s game, New York had already slugged four home runs. Kay used a few moments of the broadcast to highlight a change for Aaron Boone’s squad: new bats.
According to Kay, the Yankees analytics department recently “did a study” on shortstop Anthony Volpe, finding that he didn’t hit any baseballs on the barrel of the team’s bat. That led them to move most of the bat’s wood into the label area, “so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.”
The bats were visibly thicker around the middle label section:
Michael Kay explains that the Yankees made new bats “where they moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball.”
Seems relevant today… pic.twitter.com/cpldzigdrT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 29, 2025
MORE: The Sporting News’ 2025 MLB predictions
MLB bat rules
MLB rules state, “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.”
By all indications, the Yankees’ bats still follow those regulations. If they lead to continued success at the plate, perhaps other teams might consider a change.
Yankees home runs vs. Brewers
Using their redesigned bats, the Yankees hit a franchise record nine home runs against the Brewers.
The power display all started with a rare baseball feat: Back-to-back-to-back home runs, which came on three consecutive pitches in the first inning. Three former MVPs did the honors: Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger and Judge.
WHAT A START FOR THE @YANKEES!!!
3 pitches, 3 home runs!! pic.twitter.com/xWqAqH9X0y
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
Austin Wells added another first-inning homer, making it four for the Yankees. It marked the first time in franchise history they’ve started a game with three consecutive home runs, and also the first time in franchise history they’ve hit four home runs in the first inning.
The power didn’t stop there. Throughout the rest of the matchup, New York added another five long balls. Judge led the way with three, his 40th career multi-homer game and third career game with three home runs. Six other New York players hit a home run alongside Judge.
Here’s the full list of Yankees that hit a home run in Saturday’s game:
- Aaron Judge (3)
- Paul Goldschmidt (1)
- Cody Bellinger (1)
- Jazz Chisholm Jr. (1)
- Anthony Volpe (1)
- Austin Wells (1)
- Oswald Peraza (1)
AARON JUDGE.
THREE HOME RUNS.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?! pic.twitter.com/XsvEP6dNvO— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
Most home runs in MLB game
The Yankees’ nine home runs in Saturday’s game tied the 1999 Reds for the second-most in a single game in MLB history.
Only the 1987 Blue Jays have slugged more home runs in a game, totaling 10.
| Rank | Team | HRs | Date |
| 1. | Blue Jays | 10 | 09/14/1987 |
| 2. | Yankees | 9 | 03/29/2025 |
| Reds | 9 | 09/04/1999 | |
| 3. | 18 teams | 8 | 30 times |
