The Best Baseball Bats for the 2024 Season

Swing for the fences with some of the highest-performing baseball bats on the market.

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As springtime approaches, so does baseball season. Whether heading to games with friends and family inspires you to get out on the field or you’re a coach or player looking to refresh your baseball equipment, you know finding the right bat is key to your success.

Seemingly small characteristics like weight, length and grip material can drastically change the way you swing, whether you’re a power hitter or a contact player.

If you’re looking to improve your batting average this year or simply hit the diamond with a few friends, we’ve got a comprehensive guide of the seven best baseball bats for you to explore.

Our Picks for the Best Baseball Bats of 2024:

• Best Alloy Baseball Bat: Louisville Slugger Atlas
• Best Composite Baseball Bat: Rawlings Icon
• Best Wood Baseball Bat: Victus "J-Rod" Julio Rodriguez Pro Reserve Maple Bat
• Best Youth Baseball Bat: Easton Hype Fire 2¾" USSSA Bat 2024
• Best Balanced Bat: DeMarini Voodoo One
• Best End-Loaded Baseball Bat: Louisville Slugger Select PWR
• Best BBCOR Baseball Bat: Marucci Cat X Alloy

Best Alloy Baseball Bat: Louisville Slugger Atlas

SI Showcase + Louisville Slugger

Louisville Slugger Atlas at a glance:

• Drop: -3
• Available lengths: 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 33.5 and 34 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: One-piece alloy
• Price: $349.99
• Best for: Consistent and powerful performance

Alloy bats have long been used by baseball players and are known for stiffness and durability. One of the most iconic bat brands—Louisville Slugger—makes one of our favorite alloy bats.

The 2024 model of the Louisville Slugger Atlas was designed using data from artificial intelligence (AI) simulations to help create an optimal wall design throughout the length of the barrel and variable barrel thickness from top to bottom. The result is a massive sweet spot that performs like a charm.

You’ll get incredible feedback from this bat’s one-piece alloy design, great for players looking to generate consistent power. Plus, with the premium LS Pro Comfort Grip handle, you get all the tack and cushion you could dream of, even if you don’t have a lot of strength in your grip.

Related Post: The Best Grip Strengtheners for Every Athlete

As the cherry on top, you get a beautiful blue and orange accent design, which looks as great as the grip feels.

Pros:

• Perfectly balanced swing weight
• Easy to control
• Very forgiving barrel

Cons:

• Some users have complained of denting

Best Composite Baseball Bat: Rawlings Icon BBCOR 2023

SI Showcase + Rawlings

Rawlings Icon at a glance:

• Drop: -3
• Available lengths: 31, 32, 33 and 34 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: Two-piece carbon composite
• Price: $499.99
• Best for: Excellent plate coverage

Rawlings is a legendary brand in the sport of baseball, with a number of sleek, high-performance bats in the company’s lineup, loved by ball players of all ages. We picked the Rawlings Icon BBCOR 2023 as the best composite bat on our list, as this two-piece composite bat offers a relatively light swing feel, but packs power with a huge barrel and flexible connection piece. If serious plate coverage is what you’re looking for, it’s a solid piece of equipment.

We recommend this bat for small hitters, as the balanced swing weight helps the bat feel lighter and allows for emphasized swing speed. The composite walls are durable enough to handle heavy hitters, too. You get tons of pop with each swing and Rawlings’s Zero-Loss collar provides a smooth connection, making it easier to transfer energy with less vibration.

Pros:

• Large sweet spot
• Excellent energy transfer
• Solid pop right out of the wrapper, which reviewers love

What to consider:

• Some feel it’s a bit heavy
• Reviewers say the bat can be unforgiving if hit outside of the “sweet spot”

Best Wood Baseball Bat: Victus "J-Rod" Julio Rodriguez Pro Reserve Maple Bat

SI Showcase + Victus

Victus “J-Rod” Julio Rodriguez Pro Reserve Maple Bat at a glance:

• Drop: -6 to -8
• Available lengths: 31, 32 and 33 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: One-piece maple
• Price: $209.99
• Best for: Balanced, end-loaded feel

The bat type you choose will depend on your personal preferences and your league’s regulations. While most bats on our list are alloy and composite, you may need to invest in a wood bat as well. For example, a wood bat may be required in Major League Baseball (MLB) play, by other professional leagues or in specific tournaments. Or, you may want to use a wood bat during batting practice.

“It makes sense to have some familiarity with hitting with wood if you plan to go pro, it’s a progression all ball players that aspire to pro ball will go through,” says Mike Reagan, an American Legion baseball coach in Black Hills, South Dakota.

If you’re looking to add a wood bat to your arsenal, we suggest the Victus “J-Rod” Pro Reserve. This maple bat features a slight flare in the knob and a mid-sized handle for comfortable grip. The large barrel offers plenty of striking surface area, and with an end-loaded feel, it’s made for slugging balls out of the park with ease.

The bat is made with premium maple wood, combining classic performance with exceptional durability—Victus’s signature ProPACT finish helps eliminate the break-in process and helps retain the strength of the wood via compression.

Pros:

• Well-balanced design
• Excellent pop
• Durable construction

Cons:

• The added weight can make the bat a bit less maneuverable

Best Youth Baseball Bat: Easton Hype Fire 2¾" USSSA Bat 2024

SI Showcase + Easton

Easton Hype Fire USSSA Bat 2024 at a glance:

• Drop: -10
• Available lengths: 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 inches
• League: Little league and T-ball
• Type: Two-piece composite
• Price: $349.99
• Best for: Young players

The new Easton Hype Fire USSSA Baseball Bat is a long and light two-piece composite bat with serious barrel performance. The barrel offers a maximized sweet spot, which means even off-center hits can produce results. With a relatively light swing weight, this bat is an ideal choice for young players.

Easton upgraded this bat with its ConneXion Max joint as an attempt to minimize vibrations compared to the 2023 model. And one of our favorite design aspects of the bat is the Power Boost Soft Knob, which is super comfortable on the bottom hand.

“Bought this bat on the recommendation of the Easton Socal rep [and] boy did this bat hold up to its reputation. Not only did this bat add distance to my son's hits but it gave him a new confidence to take him to the next level! This bat has done wonders for many of the kids on his travel ball team,” writes reviewer SurGeeOhh on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website.

Pros:

• Great pop right out of the plastic
• Ultra-comfortable Power Boost Soft Knob that helps reduce vibration
• Many reviewers say they noticed improvements in batting and confidence in young players when using this bat

Cons:

• Reviewers say the bat is not the most durable, especially for older players as pitch speed increases
• Not hard-wearing enough for batting practice or batting cages

Best Balanced Bat: DeMarini Voodoo One

SI Showcase + DeMarini

DeMarini Voodoo One at a glance:

• Drop: -3
• Available lengths: 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: One-piece alloy
• Price: $399.99
• Best for: Balance

The DeMarini Voodoo One might look a lot like its predecessors, but it’s made with a new reinforced knob to help combat durability issues in previous models.

This balanced bat swings light and hits hard. The X14 alloy barrel design is high-performing, even with a relatively slim barrel profile compared to other BBCOR models. Plus, it looks incredible.

“Great bat! Has a lot of pop! Other players on the team used the bat and also loved it!” wrote reviewer Electric Man on the Dick’s Sporting Goods website.

It’s a great bat for any hard hitters or for young players who want to optimize their bat speed and mitigate hand stings with the tapered construction.

Pros:

• Terrific swing weight
• Tons of power
• Ultra-responsive one-piece construction

Cons:

• Some people complain about denting
• Reviewers say the bat can sting if hit outside the sweet spot

Best End-Loaded Bat: Louisville Slugger Select PWR

SI Showcase + Louisville

Louisville Slugger Select PWR at a glance:

• Drop: -3
• Available lengths: 31, 32 and 33 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: Three-piece alloy
• Price: $399.99
• Best for: Heavy hitters

End-loaded bats help boost exit speed, and are best for stronger, more experienced players who have their swing down. The Louisville Slugger Select PWR is an end-loaded bat made with an EXD alloy barrel that provides a greater sweet spot than standard BBCOR bats, due to the extra half-inch length.

“Great bat, large sweet spot with pop. Easy to know where the barrel is at all times,” writes reviewer Danny99.

Louisville Slugger’s 3FX-PWR Vibration Control Connection System is designed to provide independent movement between the handle and barrel for better vibration control. That equates to a wonderful stiff feel on contact.

You can also use aftermarket products, such as grips or batting gloves, to help with vibration or hand shock, Reagan says.

We highly recommend this bat for hitters 14 and up who want to hit with more speed, power and accuracy.

Pros:

• Excellent balance and feel
• Great vibration control
• Large sweet spot

Cons:

• Many reviewers cite dents, scratches, rattles and even broken bats after a few uses

Best BBCOR Baseball Bat: Marucci Cat X Alloy

SI Showcase + Marucci

Marucci Cat X Alloy at a glance:

• Drop: -3
• Available lengths: 31, 32 and 33 inches
• League: High school and college
• Type: One-piece alloy
• Price: $379.99
• Best for: Consistency

Before its release, the Marucci Cat X Alloy was one of the most anticipated baseball bats in the industry. The team at Marucci reshaped the AZR Alloy barrel profile to create a wider sweet spot and a better-balanced swing weight.

The bat is also equipped with Marucci’s Liquid-Gel Knob to help minimize vibration and sting. The handle taper is designed to be incredibly ergonomic, offering improved control and comfort.

If you’re in the market for a BBCOR bat with a precise, balanced feel that’s made to last, the Marucci Cat X is one of the best out there.

Pros:

• Very comfortable handle
• Excellent swing weight
• Incredible pop

Cons:

• A bit loud upon contact

How to Find the Right Bat Size

Bat size is largely contingent on the individual player—a focus on comfort and rhythm being more important than measurements, explains Reagan.

In general, competition level will dictate the allowable length/weight ratio, Reagan explains. For example, Little League bats can’t exceed 33 inches in length and 2-⅝ inches in diameter, PONY League requires a BBCOR certified bat or bats that are -5, -7, -9, etc., to be certified with a USABat licensing and high school is typically -3.

“As players get stronger, it makes sense for them to swing a heavier bat. You get better contact for physics reasons—think more mass,” Reagan says.

It makes sense for a player to swing what they’re allowed to in their league and what their peers swing.

“Players will naturally progress to heavier stuff, and when they reach peak physical development can experiment with length/width ratios they find appropriate,” Reagan says.

If you’re looking for a starting point, young players will usually find the right length by their height. To do so, stand up while resting the bat’s knob in the center of your hand. With your arm down by your side, the head of the bat should touch the floor. Some brands also offer size guides on their websites based on player height and weight, or if you go into a store, you’ll be able to get help picking out the correct size bat.

Related Post: The Best Baseball Cleats

Types of Baseball Bats

Bats come in two main construction styles: one-piece and two-piece. (Three-piece bats exist as well, but aren’t commonly used.)

• One-piece bats are made with a single piece of material and offer better balance, making them great for beginners. These bats tend to vibrate more and require greater power for long hits.
• Two-piece bats are made by fusing two separate pieces—the handle and barrel. This construction helps the bats to flex, and gives the bat a little spring, making the ball come off faster while reducing shock, Reagan says. This bat type also provides better power and speed.

How to Choose the Best Baseball Bat for You

Weight

Finding the best bat based on weight can be a bit subjective, but many people will use the arm extension test. With the grip in your hand, hold the bat out to your side, parallel to the floor, for around 30 to 45 seconds. If this feels challenging, you likely need a lighter bat.

Material

Different bat materials offer unique pros and cons, so knowing how they feel and react is incredibly important when shopping around. Much of hitting, and baseball, is comfort and feel, Reagan says. It may also depend on where you live and the weather conditions of your play. For example, Reagan says he’s heard wood bats are better to hit with in the cold but having grown in a cold-weather baseball state, he attests that hitting with any bat when it's colder than about 50–60 degrees is not fun.

• Alloy bats offer a stiff feel, making them perfect for training. However, they also often have smaller sweet spots compared to composite bats. 

• Composite bats use different materials like reinforced carbon fiber and offer relatively large sweet spots and reduced vibration. While they’re typically pretty expensive and not great in cold weather, you get tons of pop and power with less sting upon contact.
  
• Wood bats lack the durability and power of alloy and composite bats, though they offer incredible balance for more controlled swings. The quality of the bat you get will depend a lot on the type of wood, such as maple, ash or birch. And note that since wood bats are typically less expensive than metal bats, to save wear and tear on, you may want to use a wood bat for batting practice, Reagan says.

Technology

Beyond material and construction, there are a few main tech elements you want to look at when buying a bat.

• Barrel diameter: At the widest and thickest part of the bat, the barrel diameter will determine the level of contact you get with the ball and sensation you feel in your hands. (The sweet spot of the barrel offers maximum contact and minimum vibration in your hands.)
• End cap: End caps are designed to improve performance, whether that means better weight distribution or higher speed.
• Knob design: The way the knob is designed can also impact the overall feel of your swing, from how comfortable the bat feels in your hand to the sturdiness of the grip.

Drop

The drop is the difference between the weight of the bat (measured in ounces) and the length of the bat (measured in inches).

Lower bat drops are often better for stronger players who want more power, while higher bat drops are often ideal for weaker or younger players who want to maximize their speed.

Baseball Bat FAQs

What type of bats do MLB players use?

MLB players use wood baseball bats that are typically made out of one of three types of wood, including ash, birch or maple.

Are expensive baseball bats worth it?

While expensive bats tend to deliver better performance with long-lasting durability, you definitely don’t need to buy the most expensive bat to be a great hitter.

Do wood bats break easily?

Wood bats break far more easily than composite or aluminum bats. However, with a high-quality wooden bat, even pro baseball players can get hundreds of swings before a break.