Bucs Q&A with Bryan Reynolds

Bryan Reynolds, RF/DH

What do you think of the torpedo bat craze?

I’ve got some coming to try it. Obviously, I’m curious. If you can change the bat substantially, why can’t pitchers use Spider-Tack? I’m interested because it could help but, shoot, Spider-Tack helps, too. Everybody’s hitting homers with it, so that’s why I’m going to try it.

Did you have to contact the bat manufacturer?

That’s what everybody on our team did, just random torpedo bats. The Yankees have it where they know exactly where they hit the ball and that’s where they put the barrel. I don’t think we have the ability to do that.

How much can lengthening the barrel benefit a hitter?

It makes sense if you put the sweet spot where you always hit the ball, to have it there instead of just having a long barrel. They literally have somebody that says, ‘This is where you hit the ball. Put the barrel there.’

Would you want to try it in the batting cage or batting practice first before using it in a game?

Depends if I’m struggling. I’ll take it into the game without ever swinging it if I’m struggling. Ideally, I’d want to at least hit BP with it to feel it out. You can pretty much tell if you’re feeling good or not with it in a couple swings. You know if you’re hitting it, if you’re flushing it or not.

What’s the timeline on getting one?

It usually takes a little while to get bats. It usually takes a few weeks, at least. I know a lot of the Yankees do: Anthony Volpe and Jazz Chisholm Jr. It looked like Paul Goldschmidt was doing it.

Judge doesn’t use one.

I wouldn’t either if I was Judge. I’d probably keep doing what I was doing. It’s working for them. I’ll dabble with it. I don’t care.