An MIT-educated physicist is credited with the design of the new "torpedo" bat. It's sparked a power surge in parts of baseball.

The Yankees broke a franchise record with nine home runs in a single game, including reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge hitting three of his own in Saturday's 20-9 onslaught at Yankee Stadium.Start the day smarter.

The torpedo bat became the talk of baseball after the New York Yankees hit 15 home runs — including nine on Saturday — over three games against the Milwaukee Brewers. The bats, true to the name, feature a torpedo-like shape and are custom-made, designed to ensure the densest part of the bat is where a hitter makes the most contact.

Some of the Yankees are using redesigned bats this season and they appear to have made a difference in the first two games of the season.