UPDATE: THIS IS AN ARTICLE FROM 2013. CLICK ON EACH OF THE FOLLOWING YEARS FOR A REPORT ON THAT CATEGORY FOR THAT SEASON:
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2018 BATS | GLOVES | CLEATS
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2017 BATS | GLOVES | CATCHER’S GEAR AND MITTS
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2012-2016 MLB ALL STAR GAME BAT USAGE
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2015 BATS | GLOVES | CLEATS
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2013-2016 MLB GLOVE USAGE
To follow up our previous post breaking down the type of wood used by MLB stars, here’s our breakdown of the most popular bat brands in the MLB. Because we’ve only profiled the top players or rising stars in the league (so far), this is the perfect cross-section of what the best of the best are bringing to the box with them. Again, this is not about contracts or endorsements, this is the MLB star’s choice. These are the bat-makers that the top players in the world count on when it matters.
Louisville Slugger
Number of WPW-Profiled Players: 20.25
Here’s Louisville Slugger’s roster:
- Evan Gattis
- Buster Posey
- Chris Davis
- Joey Votto
- Brandon Phillips
- Jurickson Profar (also swings Marucci)
- Pedro Alvarez
- David Freese (also swings Tucci, Marucci, Rawlings)
- Evan Longoria
- Alex Rodriguez
- David Wright
- Ryan Zimmerman
- Starlin Castro
- Derek Jeter
- Nelson Cruz
- Curtis Granderson
- Billy Hamilton
- Josh Hamilton
- Jason Heyward
- Adam Jones
- Giancarlo Stanton (also swings Marucci)
- Justin Upton
Marucci
WPW-Profiled Players: 14.75
Marucci’s roster:
- Yadier Molina
- Mike Napoli
- David Ortiz
- Albert Pujols
- Dustin Pedroia
- Jurickson Profar (also swings Louisville Slugger)
- Chase Utley
- David Freese (also swings Louisville Slugger, Tucci, Rawlings)
- Brett Lawrie
- Hanley Ramirez
- Ian Desmond
- Jose Reyes
- Jose Bautista
- Carlos Beltran
- Jacoby Ellsbury
- Bryce Harper (Also swings Chandler)
- Andrew McCutchen
- Giancarlo Stanton (also swings Louisville Slugger)
Old Hickory
WPW-Profiled Players: 6
Old Hick’s Roster:
Sam Bat
WPW-Profiled Players: 5.5
Sam Bat’s roster:
- Robinson Cano
- Jason Kipnis
- Miguel Cabrera
- Jean Segura
- Melky Cabrera (also swings Tucci)
- Carlos Gonzalez
MaxBat
WPW-Profiled Players: 3
MaxBat roster:
Chandler, Rawlings
WPW-Profiled Players: 2.5
Chandler’s roster:
- Manny Machado
- Yoenis Cespedes
- Bryce Harper (also swings Marucci)
Rawlings’ roster:
- Joe Mauer
- Allen Craig
- David Freese (also swings Louisville Slugger, Marucci, Tucci)
Mizuno, Trinity
WPW-Profiled Players: 2
Mizuno’s Roster:
Trinity:
Tucci Lumber
WPW-Profiled Players: 1.75
Tucci’s Roster:
- Troy Tulowitzki
- David Freese (also swings Slugger, Marucci, Rawlings)
- Melky Cabrera (also swings Sam Bat)
SSK
WPW-Profiled Players: 1
SSK:
You might have figured it out, but the way we tallied them up was 1 point for an exclusive swinger and then fractions of a point if the player swung multiple brands (example: Freese swung 4 brands so each one got 0.25 points).
If you’re a frequent reader of this site, the top two names probably didn’t surprise you. Marucci has been stalking Louisville for the last few years and the “#1” badge has been thrown around by both companies. Since players change bats so often and there’s no standard measurement, its hard to know who’s #1 for sure. What is not up for debate, however, is that Slugger has never had such strong (and numerous) competition as it does today. Chuck Schupp, Slugger’s salesman to the pros remarked to WPW recently that when he started in the 80s, “there were something like six companies, now there are 28.” Despite the mob, Slugger has managed to fight them off, at least by WPW’s measurement, and Schupp believes the competition has made them better. This is great news for all of us.
Marucci is still the most tenacious young competitor for Slugger’s MLB market share, capitalizing on an extremely effective “advisory board” of superstars like Jose Bautista and David Ortiz. These guys act as consultants to better the product, own a portion of the company, and (naturally) advocate for the brand in the clubhouse. Think about that. You’re a young kid, just got the call, and a bear of a man known as “Big Papi” walks up to you in the clubhouse and offers you a dozen of his own custom Maruccis, are you gonna say no?
Didn’t think so.
The third company is one without much fanfare but boasts a stable of young, influential studs. I’ve never seen Mike Trout swing anything but his Old Hickory J143M, and even though Trout could probably hit .300 with a rolled up newspaper, you have to believe that, if Trout is this loyal, Old Hickory is quietly making some of the best wood bats in the country.
Source: Jeff Gross/Getty Images North America
Rounding out the top 5 is Sam Bats, the pioneer of the Maple bat—swung by the Best Hitter on Earth—and MaxBat. MaxBat, swung by ROY Wil Myers, offers custom Maple bats with your choice of barrel, handle and logo color with engraving ($99) for well under the price of a stock Louisville Slugger ($120), Marucci ($120), or Old Hickory ($110).
On the opposite end of the affordability spectrum, the most hyped bat of the 2013 season, Chandler is being swung by three of the most exciting young players in the game and is poised to win plenty of Big League business. Manny Machado looked like he had completely converted by the end of the season, while Bryce Harper swung Chandler for a good chunk of the season before mixing Marucci back in towards the end. Chandler’s numbers jumped after their coming out party, the Home Run Derby finals, where both Harper and Yoenis put on a show with Chandler wood.
Rounding out the group are a couple of standard baseball names, Mizuno and Rawlings, along with a couple of young companies that have made a splash lately. Tulo swung Tucci Lumber exclusively last year, a company founded by former first round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays, Pete Tucci. Another company just recently breaking into the Bigs, California’s Trinity Bat Co., has gained a foothold with local sluggers Mark Trumbo and Adrian Gonzalez among others. SSK, though only represented consistently by Elvis Andrus lately, has had bigger names on and off throughout our last two seasons of research, including Pablo Sandoval (who wears their glove) and Robbie Cano.
Be sure to check out your favorite players for their specific turning model and find out if their bat is available to you online.
I own 2 old hickory bats myself… its about to be 3 old hickory bats
What models are your old hickory bats?
I swing marucci and its great. But I am thinking about trying old hickory. Does anyone recommend sticking to marucci or trying old hickory?
Personally I prefer my Utley Marucci over my J143 Old Hickory by a slim margin but by the end of my season I even preferred my Cabrera model Sam. Sick pop and sounded like a shotgun! I’d actually really like to try out Tucci as well.
My personal ranking right now would be:
1: Sam
2: Marucci
3: B45
4: Old Hickory
5: Louisville Prime Ash
Tulowitzki and Donalson swing Rawlings too.
Matt Holliday uses Old Hickory and Louisville Slugger and Kolten Wong uses Chandler.
Alfonso Soriano swings Sam Bat btw
Evan gattis swings Mauricci too
Does anyone still use BWP bats?
I saw that on jurickson profar’s profile it says he uses trinity bats but here it says louisville slugger and marucci. Just making an observation
anyone ever try MPowered bats, they really rock
If any of you guys have used a chandler before you would now they are the best on the market. ALl their bats are custom made to your specification any color, and any model. If you go to the factory in norristown they will actually make you your own model based on your preference, Also thye are known for putting the highest quality wood into their bats for all their customers not just the pros.
Pedroia, Napoli, Hanley R now all swing the Axe. Stanton might be next after breaking hamate bone.
What did BONDS,AARON AND MCQUIRE USE