Headlining the 2023 lineup is the update to the technology on the two-piece composite Hype Comp. Easton says it used test results and player feedback from the bat’s time on the market to improve on the design. A newly increased barrel length and lower barrel compression gives the Hype Comp a lighter swing weight with improved performance, Easton says.  

“Our team pushed hard to make further, meaningful improvements driven by player testing and data, continuing to help our bats perform at the highest levels,” said Matt Arndt, Easton senior vice president of product and research and development. “We were able to achieve lower barrel compression, longer barrels and lighter swing weights, and that has been met with overwhelmingly positivity by players on field.”  

John Loeffler, Easton bat category manager, said the lighter swing weight was one key component to target to help give players faster swing speeds and more barrel control.

“Other critical components we targeted and achieved in improving were our barrel compression and barrel lengths,” he said. “A lower barrel compression results in even more trampoline effect and higher performances for players, giving them a better feeling and hotter bat.”  

Longer barrel lengths allow players a more substantial hitting surface, setting them up for more success in hitting the baseball harder, Loeffler said.  

The Hype Comp comes in a -10, -8 and -5 in various lengths.  

New to the Easton USSSA lineup is the Encore series, a completely new technology for the brand being introduced into USSSA baseball. The Encore is a lightweight composite bat available in a -10 and -5 version.  

Easton continues with the one-piece aluminum Alpha ALX, available in a -10, -8 and -5. Loeffler said the Alpha provides a “high performance and durable bat for the players who love its traditional feel.”  

The line of Easton bats launched online Oct. 6 and will hit retail stores and other online outlets on Oct. 13.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

The post Easton Announces 2023 USSSA Bat Roster with New Encore, Updated Hype Comp  appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

Using thousands of digital simulations, Louisville Slugger engineers optimized wall thickness in the Atlas Evoke Alloy Barrel along the entire length of the bat’s barrel. The computer modeling mimicked the BBCOR certification test to see how well differing barrel profiles performed in the baseball environment, allowing engineers to test thousands of designs in a matter of weeks instead of years.  

“We literally did thousands and thousands of design iterations using the computer to come up with the optimum performance profile for each bat length,” said James Earley, Louisville Slugger director of engineering. “What this computer simulation did for us is that it accurately mimics the BBCOR performance cannon test.”  

Following the computer modeling, engineers then crafted samples of the best-performing designs for additional real-world testing.

“It takes a week or two to get new samples rather than a month or two,” Earley said. “It’s like the design process on steroids.”  

Using traditional play testing, the brand’s research and development team further refined the final Atlas barrel profile, dubbed the Evoke Alloy Barrel, meant to create a larger sweet spot.

“We were able to manipulate the wall profile so that every spot on the barrel has great performance,” Earley said.  

Joe Cmelik, Louisville Slugger product manager, says the intersection of advanced computer modeling and traditional playtesting results in an optimized wall thickness across the barrel for elite performance and solid feel.  

The digital modeling identified the highest performing wall thickness in each spot along the barrel, meant to expand the bat’s sweet spot. Then, on the production side, automated lathes were programmed to machine the barrel from the inside, resulting in the ideal barrel profile as defined by the engineers.  

Unlike other one-piece alloy designs, the Atlas includes technology meant to dampen vibration, especially on a mishit. Located between the top of the handle and the base of the barrel, a honeycomb-shaped Tuned Mass Damper absorbs vibration on contact, designed to prevent the vibration from reaching a player’s hands.  

Louisville Slugger adds a SPD-GEN2 End Cap to the design.  

The new Atlas will be available at retail this fall for $300. Previous Louisville Slugger one-piece alloy offerings, the Omaha and Vapor, both received updates for 2023 and released on Oct. 5.  

The 2023 Omaha 

The popular Omaha gets a redesign for 2023 with a new TPX-24 Alloy barrel for added stiffness and energy transfer. The updated PWR End Cap and Tuned Mass Damper are included on the bat designed to produce feel without sacrificing the stiffness and power that keep hitters coming back to the Omaha. The updated 2023 Louisville Slugger Omaha (-3) BBCOR bat retails for $250.  

The 2023 Vapor 

The 2023 Vapor receives an update in the form of an “extremely stiff construction” on the Series 7 Alloy Barrel meant to fall in line with the bat’s value proposition with a $120 retail price. The steady one-piece design pairs the alloy barrel with a new HUB 1-Shot End Cap designed to optimize performance and maximize durability while offering up a light-swinging feel.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

The post Louisville Slugger Employs Digital Simulations to Create New One-Piece Atlas BBCOR Bat  appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

ATEC, part of the Wilson family of brands and the official training equipment of Major League Baseball, had grown popular with the M3X machines that could transition from offensive to defensive drills in a matter of minutes. The company claims this feature makes them the only machine baseball and softball coaches need. The upgrades build off that versatility.  

“I’m a huge fan of the ATEC M3X machines and am excited to start using the new 2.0 version. I even requested to have the first ones off the assembly line,” said Link Jarrett, Florida State head baseball coach. “The M3X 2.0 machines are great because they’re easy to use and extremely versatile. It’s simple to transition from BP to defensive drills, including ground balls and fly balls. They help us efficiently manage all the drills we need to do to help our players improve and stay on top of their game.”? 

M3X 2.0 Baseball and Softball Training Machines, with a retail price of $3,500, can be adjusted to throw varying pitch speeds,?with maximum velocities of 95-plus mph for baseball and 70-plus mph for softball. The?new?micro-adjustment knob allows for more precise on-the-fly adjustments?to quickly?switch?from ground?balls?to?fly balls during defensive drills?and?change?pitch types and locations during batting practice.? 

“Building off the tremendous success of the M3X machine, the M3X 2.0 has been upgraded with higher top-end speeds, faster breaking balls and more control over pitch location,” said Todd Heinemann, ATEC consumer relations manager. “We have been working with Rapsodo to provide in-depth spin rates on every possible pitch so coaches will be able to find the exact pitch they want to throw for any ability level. The M3X 2.0 also has a smaller footprint and is much lighter than the larger machines on the market, so it has all the power and functionality a coach will ever need.”? 

The new knob allows for quicker and more precise adjustments than previously, both in batting practice and during defensive drills. The?M3X 2.0’s re-engineered?steel wheel guards?improve?durability, while the redesigned high-definition ball chute has an adjusted angle to provide a more?unobstructed view of the ball?both at the plate and in the field.?The elevation pro handle improves?elevation?range on fly balls without?the need to?manually?tilt?the machine.?? 

The? speed control dial allows coaches to change pitch types seamlessly, with no more than eight seconds?needed to change pitches.?Compatible with leather, foam and dimpled balls, M3X 2.0 machines have a?five-year limited warranty for frame and non-moving parts and a?two-year limited warranty on moving parts.? 

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

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One of the top selling BBCOR bats in the game with what the brand calls an easy swing and groundbreaking performance, the 2023 DeMarini Voodoo One (-3) debuts with the Voodoo One Gold, complete with the bat’s signature X14 alloy barrel. But new this year is a reinforced knob and Refined Tracer End Cap.  

“We wanted to maintain the performance and feel that hitters love in the Voodoo One, while also making meaningful updates for players,” said Joe Cmelik, senior product line manager for DeMarini bats. “As product developers, there’s a fine line when you have a bat that hitters like as is, but we want to push the model forward as much as possible.”  

With that balance in mind, the latest iteration of the Voodoo One features the same barrel DeMarini engineers crafted with exit velocities in mind and the same one-piece alloy construction known for pop, balanced swing weight and a forgiving feel. But new to the 2023 model are the updates to the knob and end cap.  

“In the case of the Voodoo One Gold, it came down to making some small improvements that make the consumer experience better without taking away from what made the product great in the first place,” Cmelik said. “So, we worked hard to develop a reinforced knob and create the Refined Tracer End Cap.”

The updated end cap is formed with composite materials and works the alloy barrel, designed to optimize performance for maximum exit velocities. The one-piece alloy construction generates a stiff feel through the swing, the brand says, with the composite materials specifically designed to strengthen the cap and match the barrel.  

The reinforced knob is meant to improve handling to maximize swing speeds.  

“The reinforced knob provides the leverage needed to empower hitters to maximize their bat speed,” Cmelik said, “while the Refined Tracer End cap advances Voodoo One Gold’s powerful barrel performance.”  

The Voodoo One is available in six lengths, ranging from 29 inches to 34 inches, all with corresponding -3 weight drops. It retails for $350.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

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The Encore Hybrid comes all new for 2023—a two-piece hybrid composite bat featuring the brand’s CompCore technology. The CompCore design from Easton, which the company calls its “most technically advanced two-piece hybrid” was designed to create thinner barrel walls, a larger sweet spot and a maximized trampoline effect. Easton’s PureLynk CXN connects the handle directly to the barrel to reduce barrel flex, giving the Encore Hybrid a stiffer feeling for power. 

“The Encore Hybrid is a technologically advanced, one-of-a-kind hybrid bat to help elite athletes on the field,” said Matt Arndt, Easton senior vice president of product and research and development.  

Ringless R5 alloy is thinned 30% and internally backed with a composite technology across the length of the hitting surface for the thinner barrel wall. For stiffness on contact, the handle features extra-stiff carbon fiber and the connection point ties the handle directly to the barrel. This design maximizes stiffness, energy transfer and power at contact.  

The Encore Hybrid -3 comes in 31-inch through 34-inch lengths. 

Additional bats in the Easton 2023 BBCOR lineup include the light swing weight and big-barreled two-piece Hype Comp composite and the one-piece aluminum Alpha ALX.  

The Hype Comp has a carbon handle with extra-stiff carbon fiber for more stability. The composite technology in the barrel is designed for a large sweet spot while giving the Hype Comp the lightest swinging bat in the brand’s lineup. Nitrocell foam injected into the connection point on the bat is designed to maximize energy transfer with a stiffer feel on contact. The foam also helps reduce vibration.  

The ringless barrel design of the Alpha uses differing layers of alloy to enlarge the sweet spot and strive for a smoother feel at contact. The R5 Alloy used in the bat was chosen for lightweight durability with what the brand calls a “high barrel response.”  

The Hype -3 comes in 30-inch through 34-inch lengths and the Alpha -3 comes in 30-inch through 34-inch lengths.  

All three bats in the Easton lineup feature soft knob technology for more leverage while reducing vibration and improving comfort.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

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The fresh A2K lineup features five professional-level patterns, with an all-new 12.75-inch 1810 outfielder’s glove and updates to the 1786 and 1787 infield gloves, the D33 pitcher’s glove and M1D catcher’s mitt.  

Every Wilson A2K gets built in the brand’s Japanese factory with Pro Stock Select leather, the top 5% of all hides brought in by the company. Wilson adds double-palm construction, with an extra piece of leather in the palm to help with glove shaping and create a long-lasting pocket.  

Highlighting the 2023 lineup is the new outfield glove pattern, the 1810, which Aso designed to improve durability and fit security. The design includes a modified wrist strap and wider pinky finger stall.  

“With players now typically preferring to put two fingers in the pinky stall, the 1810 features a newly shaped wrist strap that better holds the back of a player’s hand,” Aso says. “The back pinky bends toward the player’s hand, holding it snug without feeling too tight.”  

A wider palm liner allows outfielders to wear the 1810 glove with two or even three fingers in the pinky, but still with control. A traditional wrist strap maintains a smooth shape across the back of the hand, but the newly designed 1810 strap is cut to better hold the back of the hand no matter how a player wears the glove, Aso says. The pattern includes a longer finger divider between the middle and ring finger stalls, extending lower into the palm liner to secure the fit without tightness.  

Aso says these changes “combine into one glove made for a better fit. When a player catches a ball at the top of the glove fingers, the glove will hold its shape better and it will not bend.”  

Wilson believes it can prolong the life of the 1810 by extending the felt layer all the way to the palm laces.

“It is designed to make it easier to close the glove while keeping its shape,” Aso says, adding it will improve the life of the pinky finger section of the glove.  

Tied off laces between the middle and ring fingers are designed to create a cushion between the fingers when outfielders close the glove.  

The 1786 11.5-inch infield glove features a shallow-pocket construction. The 2023 version includes black leather and SuperSkin to repel moisture, reduce weight and improve durability. The 11.75-inch 1887 infield glove features tan leather meant for a “timeless look.” The patented dimpled texture of the Spin Control Technology in the palm is designed to increase friction against the ball for improved command of the infield. The glove also comes in SuperSkin.  

Wilson has an 11.75-inch pitcher’s glove, the D33, with a closed pro-laced web and deep pocket to conceal pitch grips. The M1D 33.5-inch catcher’s mitt features leather and SuperSnakeSkin.  

Wilson says the 2023 line, which features a mixture of vintage tan, coal and black, was built to look “clean and classic.”  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

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Every year the fresh lineup includes a mixture of bats in the brand’s MLB Prime Signature Series. In 2023 that features the game model bats of Ronald Acuna Jr., Cody Bellinger, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Eloy Jimenez, Kyle Schwarber and Christian Yelich. Add in an MLB Prime DJ2 Captain design as a harkening back to Derek Jeter‘s bat specs and Louisville Slugger has a healthy range of signature styles.  

“The 2023 lineup gives a nod to some of the game’s legends, as well as some of the biggest sluggers on the diamond today,” says Jake Misener, Louisville Slugger brand manager.  

Misener says the MLB Prime lineup is, once again, headlined by the Signature Series bats, which include an entirely new look for the VG27. The Guerrero Jr. Signature Series bat is similar to the C243 model, one of the brand’s oldest and most popular big-barrel designs.  

Using birch for hardness and flexibility, the wood is bone rubbed in the Louisville Slugger factory for extra hardness and receives a topcoat of finish to increase the hardness and offer a unique aesthetic.  

Available with a wine barrel, black handle and gold branding, the VG27 comes in lengths from 31 inches to 34 inches and includes a seamless decal applied under the topcoat. From a construction perspective, the VG27 has a large, slightly end-loaded barrel with a short barrel taper. It features a traditional knob taper, a standard thickness on the handle and no cup.  

“We added four new MLB Prime models, including a DJ2 design inspired by the specs and look used by Hall of Famer Derek Jeter during his career,” Misener says. “We also brought player models to our Youth Prime for the first time.”  

Overall, the Slugger lineup includes MLB Prime Maple, MLB Prime Birch, Select Cut M9 and Select Cut B9 as well as Youth Prime, Youth Genuine and Youth Flylite models.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

The post Louisville Slugger Releases 2023 Wood Bat Lineup appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

The Original Black Magic was popular in the mid-1980s, one of the most used bats in Easton’s history—along with the B5 Pro. The original Black Magic was the first 2-3/4-inch barrel bat of its kind and quickly grew in use across amateur baseball. Today’s Black Magic Retro Remix, which launched for pre-order on June 9, offers a modern take on the original, engineered for today’s game with a style reminiscent of the one four decades ago.

“The original Black Magic might arguably be one of the most well-known bats to ever be made,” says John Loeffler, Easton’s bat category manager. “We are thrilled to bring that name back to life with updated technology, innovation and performance.”  

The new Black Magic Retro Remix offers a one-piece aluminum bat with R5 alloy. The FlyWall ringless barrel design features different layers of alloy across the barrel, aimed at crafting a larger sweet spot and smoother feel at contact. The Easton Power Boost Soft Knob technology is meant to give hitters more leverage with reduced vibration and comfort for the bottom hand.  

Of course, the retro styling plays across the aesthetics of the bat with the black base punctuated with gold.  

“The original Black Magic was one of those bats to set the standard for bat innovation when it was first introduced,” says Matt Arndt, Easton senior vice president of product and research and development. “Now, coupled with today’s standards and advancements in technology, we are excited to bring back one of the most iconic bats in baseball history.”  

The Black Magic released in multiple sizes for pre-order on June 9 and will be available online and in stores on June 16. The BBCOR design, priced at $350, is a -3, while the USSSA, priced at $280, comes in a -10, -8 or -5, all with varying barrel lengths and weights.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

The post Easton Launches Limited-Edition Retro-Styled Black Magic Bat  appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

“Aaron Judge is easily one of the biggest names in baseball today, and rightfully so,” said Adam Franklin, president of Franklin Sports. “He’s one of the most impactful players in the game, especially at the plate, so we couldn’t be more excited to create something tailored exclusively to his needs and to welcome him to the Franklin family.”  

A leader in batting gloves across MLB, Franklin creates custom batting gloves for all its big league players. Judge joins fellow Yankees Joey Gallo, DJ LeMahieu, Aaron Hicks and Isiah Kiner-Falefa using the custom creations. The gloves for Judge will feature the blue and white of the Yankees, along with a design fully customized to his preferences and fit.   

“As a professional who takes pride in preparation, partnering with Franklin fits my game perfectly,” Judge said. “It’s just another competitive advantage at the plate to know you’ve created something unique to you, that feels right every time you step into the batter’s box.”   

Judge, a three-time all-star and two-time Silver Slugger, hails from California and was drafted in the first round in 2013. The 6-foot-7 right fielder led the Yankees offense in 2021 and is known as one of the best run producers in the game.

Franklin Sports, based in Massachusetts since the company was founded in 1946, has grown its catalog of sporting goods products to over 10,000 items across 10 different sports and is the official batting glove of MLB.  

Three batting glove lines dominate the Franklin portfolio. The CFX Pro, Pro Classic and Powerstrap all get made from a single piece of Pittard sheepskin leather in Franklin’s patented tri-curve technology. The single piece eliminates stitching that tends to break down quickly. All three batting gloves are available for customization, whether for Judge’s hands or someone else.  

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb.  

The post Aaron Judge Signs With Franklin Sports To Wear Batting Gloves   appeared first on College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America.

“The 2022 lineup is really all about making sure every type of player has the perfect bat,” says Jake Misener, Louisville Slugger product manager. The models come in the BBCOR, USSSA and USA Baseball designations and include customization opportunities.

The 2022 Meta BBCOR offers what the brand calls an easy-swinging, balanced composite bat for a blend of performance and feel. It was designed with a 3FX Connection System for a stiff feel and a GT1 End Cap to maximize barrel length. The USSA version features the same EKO Composite barrel as the BBCOR version.

“EKO Composite is our patented barrel design which utilizes aerospace-grade carbon fiber,” says James Earley, Louisville Slugger director of innovation. “It is built so that it has maximum performance out of the wrapper.”

The Meta and Meta PWR both feature EKO Composite material, which gets crafted by stacking individual layers of composite material on top of one another. Each new layer is stacked slightly offset the preceding layer, leading to higher strength in the final product, Earley says. It also offers up a unique sound on contact.

Using a GT1 End Cap, the low-profile design pairs with the EKO Composite to maximize barrel length and elongate the sweet spot.

The Meta PWR increases the stiffness to improve maximum exit velocity for strong high school and college players needing a powerful BBCOR version while the Meta One is designed for the youngest players on the USSSA circuit with a light and balanced swing weight to improve barrel control.

“The Meta is perfect for that contact hitter and we fine-tuned the Meta PWR to be even stiffer with a more end-loaded feel,” Misener says. “It’s definitely more for the power hitters.”

The 3FX Connection found throughout a range of bats is meant to offer a stiff feel through the swing. “Players kept asking for a stiff connection with little to no vibration,” Earley says. “That is what the 3FX Connection delivers.”

The hybrid Select PWR for BBCOR features EXD Alloy, a three-piece design with a rigid composite handle, stiff 3FX-PWR Connection System and alloy barrel with weight placed near the end cap to help maximize exit velocity.

“Select PWR really took off last year with the resurgence of alloy in the game,” Misener says.

The Solo, for both BBCOR and USSSA, is one of two one-piece alloy bats in the lineup and was engineered to maximize swing speed and barrel control. Using the brand’s Premium SL Hyper Alloy Barrel with a balanced design, Slugger says contact-oriented hitters can put the ball in play with ease. The new SPD Composite End Cap elongates the barrel profile for a more consistent contact.

The Omaha offers up the second one-piece alloy bat, this one designed for maximum stiffness to mirror the feel of a wood bat. The MX 7U1+ Alloy Barrel pairs with a Vibex vibration-dampening handle.

The USA Baseball models include Prime, Omaha and Solo.

The 2022 bats all feature updated graphics and colors ranging from orange to gunmetal gray. Joe Cmelik, Louisville Slugger product line manager, says the aesthetic approach was about finding a way to tie the bat families to each other while also making them easily stand apart. “We brought in some more bold colors and premium finishes to help with that,” he says, “while bringing them together in the graphic elements that use the first letter of the bat names to create the graphic packages. That creates a common theme across the bats while still allowing people to easily tell the difference between them from far away.”

Tim Newcomb covers gear and business for Baseball America. Follow him on Twitter at @tdnewcomb. 

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