The New York Yankees’ explosive offensive display on Saturday, highlighted by a franchise-record nine home runs, has generated buzz around Major League Baseball. And it was not just because of the result, but due to the unique design of some of their bats. The bats in question, known as “Torpedo” barrels, were developed by a former Yankees front-office member, Kevin Smith, a former Yankees minor leaguer, explained on X.com. The bats move the mass of the wood where hitters commonly make contact. The slight increase in mass lower to the hands helps increase the likelihood of turning near misses into solid hits.

“They also feel a little lighter, there’s more weight closer to your hands so you can swing a heavier bat. It kind of feels like those old wiffle ball bats you used as a kid, the barrel feels MASSIVE the first time you pick it up. But it’s really not THAT big,” Smith explained on X.com. They were big enough that opposing managers noticed. Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch told The Athletic he was glad that this was getting attention.

“There was a little bit of conversation around spring training,” Hinch acknowledged before the Tigers’ game against the Dodgers. “I don’t really understand it, the bat companies and stuff like that. But it will get plenty of attention now. The internet has a beautiful way of making things to be a big deal. I hadn’t paid a ton of attention to it really until today.”

Despite external curiosity and some skepticism around the league, an MLB spokesperson confirmed to The Athletic that the bats are completely legal and adhere to the league’s standards.