The 9 Best Youth Baseball Bats
Special Honors
Louisville Slugger Ash This option has a simple design without any of the graphics that so often adorn kids' bats. It looks like a classic piece of sporting equipment right out of the 1950s. It measures 26 inches long, has a non-cupped end, and a natural matte finish. If you've been looking for an affordable, timeless option, your search may end here. dickssportinggoods.com
Rawlings Blue Available in blue or pink, this 24-inch, 12-ounce bat is great for young children. It's made from a single piece of alloy metal that can withstand day after day of vigorous playing. Best of all, it's among the least expensive models on the market. walmart.com
Editor's Notes
September 23, 2020:
It's important to remember that even though these bats are designed with certain ages in mind, you still need to supervise children when they play any type of sport. Whizzing balls and swinging bats have the potential to cause physical harm, which is why it's so crucial that you enforce safety rules during playtime and practice. If you think the kid in your life might be better suited to a different position on the field, consider investing in a youth catcher set instead of — or in addition to — a bat.
The DeMarini Voodoo, DeMarini CF7, and Easton Mako have all been cut due to fulfillment issues, while the Easton S500 got the ax after we reviewed and confirmed complaints about the bat’s effectiveness and durability. Additionally, the Rawlings Threat has been replaced with an updated model. The Ortiz34 Homerun, Mizuno B20, Easton Speed, and Franklin Sports Venom are the newest entries, chosen for their high-performance designs and comfortable feel.
April 04, 2019:
In creating this list, the most important factors considered were performance, durability, and size. Several of the products included here come in a variety lengths, widths, and weights, because there are tons of kids for whom a standard "youth" size bat may be either too small or too large. The Combat Maximum was removed due to quality complaints from a sizable portion of users. In its place, we've added the Rawlings Threat and an updated version of the DeMarini Voodoo, which feature strong composite and aluminum bodies, respectively, and come in a range of sizes. DeMarini, Louisville Slugger, and Easton are the top manufacturers of youth baseball bats, which is why multiple products from each have been selected for this list.