Should you’ve been following together with our 2022 Glove and Cleat stories, then there’s an opportunity that you simply’ve been ready for us to interrupt out the lumber. Right here it’s, the What Execs Put on 2022 Bat Report. The best way that MLB gamers deal with their bats is so much totally different than how they deal with cleats or gloves. Whereas a number of these guys are loyal to particular manufacturers and fashions for cleats and gloves all through a profession, we regularly see gamers not even be loyal to a bat for 9 innings.

With a view to make this report and the others prefer it, WPW spends the yr cataloging MLB starters (not together with pitchers) tools primarily based on Baseball-Reference.com’s workforce pages, in addition to a number of others. In relation to what the professionals are swinging, we give attention to what bat or bats every starter makes use of probably the most. It’s additionally necessary to notice that a few of these guys will use a plethora of manufacturers all through the season, however WPW focuses on the 2 manufacturers that they’re most loyal to.

2021 Bats Used By MLB Starters

In 2021 Victus and Marucci dominated the market, being utilized by practically half of MLB starters.

What Wooden Bat Do You Swing?

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What Bats Do MLB Starters Use?

2022 Bats Swung By MLB Starters

In 2022, league-wide bat utilization didn’t change an excessive amount of. Each Victus and Marucci prolonged their leads respectively within the prime two spots.

Almost 75% of bats utilized by MLB beginning hitters come from 5 corporations: Victus, Marucci, Louisville Slugger, Chandler, and Previous Hickory. The large distinction between 2021 and 2022 is available in Chandler surpassing Previous Hickory to enter into the fourth spot and being utilized by 10.5% of MLB starters.

Right here’s a have a look at the seven main manufacturers being swung across the MLB:

Victus | 24.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (+0.5%) from 2021

Victus has solely been making bats since 2012 and will have probably the most spectacular rise amongst bat corporations because it solely took them 10 years to beat out the powerhouse bat makers like Louisville Slugger, which has made bats because the 1800s. After taking up the league in 2021 and turning into probably the most extensively used bat amongst MLB starters, Victus has continued to develop in reputation.

Victus is swung by breakout rookies Julio Rodriguez and Jeremy Peña in addition to seasoned energy hitters like Salvador Perez and Bryce Harper. Though Victus was acquired in 2017 by Marucci, they’ve continued to function independently. The Victus model is centered round always innovating the best way that bats are made to create the very best ranges of efficiency. This dedication to the evolution of baseball has helped Victus make its meteoric rise.

Victus has a formidable record of believers. Together with former MVPs Mookie Betts and Jose Altuve, right here’s an inventory of some the perfect ballplayers who use Victus bats:

See all of our featured Victus bats here.

Marucci | 23% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (+1% from 2021)

Marucci holds second place with practically the identical share of starters since 2019. After the savvy acquisition of Victus in 2017, the 2 manufacturers are utilized by a mixed 44.5% of MLB starters.

Marucci’s crowning second of the 2022 season got here on a Friday night time in September, when Albert Pujols stepped as much as the plate along with his signature AP5 mannequin and launched profession residence runs 699 and 700 at Dodger Stadium, cementing dwelling legend standing along with his favourite stick.

Jose Abreu, Austin Riley, and Trea Turner all used Marucci bats in 2022. Listed here are another notable gamers that be a part of them on the record of gamers who persistently took Marucci to bat:

See all of our featured Marucci bats here.

Louisville Slugger | 14.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (-0.5% from 2021)

Louisville Slugger additionally noticed no change of their utilization from 2021-2022, sitting fairly in third and utilized by 15% of MLB starters. Louisville Slugger has been making bats since 1883 and is a staple within the baseball world. It’s my private wooden bat of selection, and I’m joined in that call by Silver Sluggers Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Schwarber. Listed here are a number of extra of the league’s finest that rocked one of many oldest manufacturers in baseball:

See all of our featured Louisville Slugger bats here.

Chandler | 10.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (+2.5% from 2021)

Chandler Bats had the most important rise out of the 4 largest manufacturers from the 2022 season. After being rescued from chapter when Yoenis Cespedes purchased the Chandler bat company in 2019, Chandler shortly reestablished itself amongst Large League energy hitters, together with Aaron Judge returning to the model for his historic season after switching to Victus throughout the 2021 season. Listed here are among the different sluggers that be a part of Decide on the record of gamers swinging Chandler Bats:

See all of our featured Chandler bats here.

Previous Hickory | 8.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (-1.5% from 2021)

Previous Hickory is the primary model we noticed a lower in utilization for the 2022 season. After seeing a fairly heavy drop off, Previous Hickory is now the fifth most used bat by MLB starters after sitting in fourth for a number of years.

The standard is indeniable, although. Previous Hickory is utilized by perennial MVP candidate Mike Trout, and is joined by loads of powerhouse hitters:

See all of our featured Previous Hickory bats here.

B45 | 3.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (-0.5% from 2021)

The Canada-based bat firm, B45, noticed a slight lower in utilization throughout the MLB this previous yr, however their roster is spectacular nonetheless. Utilized by a complete of 12 MLB starters, B45 boasts Eduardo Escobar and Ketel Marte amongst others. B45 makes a speciality of making birch wooden bats, that are a hybrid between maple and ash. Birch wooden bats are rising in reputation, and listed here are a pair guys who swing B45’s iteration:

See all of our featured B45 bats here.

Tucci Lumber | 2.5% of Bats Utilized by MLB Starters (-0.5% from 2021)

With Victus and Marucci taking a fair larger share of the league, Tucci Lumber is the second of the smaller manufacturers that we’ve seen get only a contact smaller. Fortunately for Tucci, they’ve among the largest names within the league together with 2022 All-Star and Silver Slugger Xander Bogaerts (KFP48 Maple) and Bo Bichette (BO11 Maple Bat).

See all of our featured Tucci Lumber bats here.

These are the remaining manufacturers swung by MLB starters:

Extra MLB Hitter Insights

ProHitter Hitting Support Utilized by a Colossal 53% of MLB Starters (+9% from 2021)

ProHitter is a small hitting help worn across the thumb that gives padding between the thumb and index finger. In response to their web site, ProHitter helps the batter enhance the place of the bat of their fingers which in flip results in a rise in bat velocity and an uptick in energy. The rubber additionally absorbs some vibration off the bat resulting in much less sting. The tiny piece has been an amazing success in MLB because it, and comparable items just like the Thumbpro, are worn by a whopping 145 MLB starters (a 9% year-over-year improve!), together with Aaron Judge and Austin Riley.

ProHitter is worn on the highest hand and designed to maximise extension and bat velocity. Over half of MLB starters can’t be incorrect. It simply could also be well worth the $10-$12 value at Dick’s.

Lizard Skins Bat Wraps Utilized by 51% of MLB Beginning Hitters (+15% from 2021)

One other hitting accent that elevated from “in style” to “dominant” with an unlimited soar in 2022: Lizard Skins. Whereas Lizard Skins have been a well-liked grip in previous years, we noticed 139 starters use them in 2022. Marucci acquired Lizard Skins again in 2021, and with Marucci and Victus (a Marucci firm) being utilized by round half the league this data comes as no shock. Lizard Skins has been a well-liked different to plain tape within the MLB for a decade now, and can be found at Baseball Express beginning at $11.95.

Batting Gloves

Franklin Batting Gloves | Worn by 44.5% of MLB Beginning Hitters (+2.5% from 2021)

In 2022 Franklin continued its gradual and regular march towards being utilized by half of MLB beginning hitters. With quite a few totally different choices of high-quality batting gloves – together with the CFX Professional, Professional Traditional, and Powerstrap – Franklin is worn by 44.5% of MLB starters. Franklin now has a 34-player lead on Nike, together with 2022’s AL and NL MVPs. Right here’s a number of of the hitters utilizing the league’s hottest batting gloves:

See all of our featured Franklin batting gloves here.

Nike Batting Gloves | Worn by 32% of MLB Beginning Hitters (No Change from 2021)

Nike didn’t see any motion in utilization for 2022, staying at 32% of MLB beginning hitters. Nike, the official uniform of MLB, has been #2 behind Franklin for the previous couple of years. Nonetheless, the model’s magnetic attraction has lured a proficient group of gamers rocking the swoosh. This contains:

See all of our featured Nike batting gloves here.

Adidas Batting Gloves | Worn by 8% of MLB Beginning Hitters (-1% from 2021)

After Franklin and Nike, there’s a fairly steep dropoff with Adidas coming in third. Adidas’ roster has a number of expertise, all of which rock the long-standing Adidas Adizero 4.0 Batting Gloves (Obtainable at BaseballExpress.com for $20-$35). Right here’s a few of Adidas’ heavy hitters:

See all of our featured Adidas batting gloves here.

Listed here are the remaining batting glove manufacturers worn by MLB beginning hitters:

And a drumroll for remaining class up for consideration within the WPW 2022 Bat Report: males who go barehanded on the plate. This class incorporates two MLB starters, and right here they’re:

For our loyal readers who made all of it the best way to the top of this report, try this tradition Vullo Bat Firm maple fungo bat made for the Texas Rangers:

What do you concentrate on our 2022 MLB bat and batting glove report?  Tell us within the feedback.