Carleton Place bat maker takes a swing at torpedo trend [Video]

Ben Milinkovich figures he’s heard the word ‘torpedo’ more often in the last few weeks than he has in the last 30 years of his life.

The Ottawa-area sales director has been scrambling to fill “nonstop” orders for a baseball bat with a trendy design.

Known as a torpedo bat, the design features an enlarged sweet spot — the part of the bat that makes contact with the ball. The bats have been surging in popularity since a record-setting New York Yankees game last month. The team set a franchise record with nine home runs, with several Yankees hitters wielding torpedoes.

Now Milinkovich and his Carleton Place employer Sam Bat hope their torpedo bats are a home run for the bottom line, as the threat of U.S. tariffs complicates the future.

Milinkovich said he’s been fielding calls from pros to the parents of little leaguers in North America and overseas …