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By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022
We’ve always been fans of the Slugger Meta. The 2023 line is no different. It is the same as the 2022 versions of the bat, with the addition of a USA to round out the USSSA and BBCOR versions. They also added a new end cap to the USA version of the bat. But, other than those changes, the bat is unchanged. We still like it. Despite its high price and the fact that its peak popularity passed, it’s still a great bat in BBCOR and has real potential in the USSSA space to compete with the CF and Marucci CAT Composite. There is also a META PWR version you can find directly on Slugger’s website.
These models range toward 10/10 rankings due to their fantastic feel, high user ratings, and high-performance marks when we test them. The biggest drawback of these bats is the price, so consider that when looking for the right stick. In the end, no one with a Meta wishes they had another bat. Except for the drop 12 USA bat, all the others are highly recommendable.
Below is the breakdown of each 2023 Slugger Meta. Note that the 2023 Meta PWR is found only on Sluggers site directly and runs significantly heavier (10%+) in swing weight compared to the non-PWR version. The bats are highly recommendable, especially for that player who wants as much plate coverage per swing weight as possible. The 2023 Slugger Meta bats feel fantastic, and the flexible connection makes every hit feel like a tank. If the 2022 version is available and for a cheaper price, it’d be a smart buy to get that, as there are no changes.
| 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
| 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
| 3 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 |
| MOI | Tech | Drb | Flx | Prof | ReSl | PlaRa | ExVe | Relv | Dmnd |
|---|
Several two-piece composite bats with premium price tags are positioned as they best a company has to offer. That includes bats like DeMarini’s CF, Easton’s Hype, and Marucci’s CAT Composite.
Except for the USA version and its new end cap, the 2023 Slugger Meta has not changed from the 2022 versions. It comes in a drop 5, 8, and 10 in USSSA and BBCOR. It’s a two-piece composite with a big barrel meant for a light swing.
Slugger’s 2023 Meta comes with an “EKO” composite-engineered barrel that allows for a very light structure and a massive profile. It sounds great, too. The connection piece is called the ‘3FX,’ and it uses a loving system with a lot of flexibility—so the sting is usually nonexistent on the META; most hits feel pretty good. The end cap, they call the “GT1,” is a single piece of plastic that is light and helps bring down the swing weight even further. Slugger uses the same LS Pro Comfort Grip they have had for the last several years.
The overall rating uses seven different weighted metrics to determine our overall score. Half of total rating comes from the player and our exit speed tests (Player Rating: 25%, Performance: 25%).The other categories are Relevance (20%), Demand (10%), Durability (10%), Resell Score (5%), and Tech Specs (5%).
*: When a bat is denoted by a star (*) it is a preliminary rating. Expect it to be updated as we learn more about the bat and gather more data.
(PlaRa) Player Rating: We measure player rating from user reviews. Those users include our own hitters that we test at the lab as well as reviews we find online.
(ExVe) Performance: Performance measures the exit speeds and distances we capture in our hitting lab with HitTrax using these bats.
(Relv) Relevance: We measure the number of sizes and the MOI of the bat. Bats with a wider range of options get a better score.
(Dmnd) Demand: Demand is measured by consumer sentiment and the buzz around the bat.
(Drb) Durability: A bat’s durability is measured by user reviews as well as feedback from manufacturers.
(ReSl) Resell Score: Based on the price the bats go for used. Higher prices mean greater user demand which means, generally, a better bat. A resell value closer to its original price means a higher score.
(Tech) Tech Specs: We rate the bat on its technological advancements from previous years and compared to the industry at large. This is our chance to reward companies who are trying to innovate.
MOI
MOI or Mass Moment of Inertia is a measurement of bat swing weight. This quantifies how difficult it is to swing a bat. The industry often refers to this as things like End Load or Balanced but those words have been overused to the point of meaninglessness. We measure the actual swing weights of each bat we test using the industry-standard pendulum period, balance point, and scale weight. You can read more about that here.
Price
The price is the original MSRP price of the bat.
Type
The types of bats are single-piece alloy (SPA), two-piece composite (TPC), single-piece composite (SPC), hybrid (Hyb.), and wood (Wood). Hybrid bats are made of composite handles and alloy barrles.
Date
The estimated date the bat began distribution.
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