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<< Baseball Reviews << Marucci Reviews

2023 Marucci CAT X Connect Review

By Bat Digest | Last Updated November 17, 2022




On August 10th, 2022 Marucci drops the Cat X Connect. The bat will do well among bigger hitters as they like the hot out of the wrapper alloy, as well as the heavier wing weight. The bat comes with considerable upgrades over the 2021 CAT 9 Connect, but we still think that bat, too, was great.


Price Check
Note: Bats and models denoted with an asterisks (*) are still in progress. Current rating reflects our best estimate. Expect updates.

2023 CAT X Connect Models


Several teams in the NCAA CWS used the CAT X Connect for the 2022 tourney. The fact so many have adopted it, going away from their trusted CAT 9’s, is good evidence the bat rakes. We expect this bat to do well at the college ranks, be a good to great bat for high school kids who want to go hybrid and have a few USSSA options that are worth considering too.

BBCOR
Buy It Amazon JustBats DSG Sideline
…/10*
USSSA –5
Buy It Amazon JustBats DSG Sideline
…/10*
USSSA –8
Buy It Amazon JustBats DSG Sideline
…/10*
USSSA –10
Buy It Amazon JustBats DSG Sideline
…/10*

General Recomendations

The Cat Connect line from Marucci is a two-piece hybrid bat that is known for more of an endload in its BBCOR version and a bit lighter swing in the Composite and single-piece alloy versions. 

Model Recommendations

MCBCCX

BBCOR Review*

CAT X Connect BBCOR Ratings (key)
4 5 4 3 4 5 5 5 4 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd
…
OVERALL*/10

Price It

Marucci Amazon SidelineSwap JustBats
We don't know much about the CAT X Connectin BBCOR, but we do know its coming and we can't wait to hit it. When it does drop and we can get our data gathered on the bat we will update this page.
Sizing: 30, 31, 32, 33, 34-inch
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Serial: MCBCCX
Bat Type: Hybrid
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
See other BBCOR Bats
MCBCCX5

USSSA Drop 5 Review*

CAT X Connect USSSA Drop 5 Ratings (key)
4 5 5 3 4 5 5 5 4 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd
…
OVERALL*/10

Price It

Marucci Amazon SidelineSwap JustBats
We don't know much about the CAT X Connect in USSSA Drop 5, but we do know its coming and we can't wait to hit it. When it does drop and we can get our data gathered on the bat we will update this page.
Sizing: 30, 31, 32-inch
Release Date: August 9, 2022
Serial: MCBCCX5
Bat Type: Hybrid
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
See other Drop 5 USSSA Bats
MSBCCX8

USSSA Drop 8 Review*

CAT X Connect USSSA Drop 8 Ratings (key)
4 4 4 3 4 5 4 4 4 5
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd
…
OVERALL*/10

Price It

Marucci Amazon SidelineSwap JustBats
We don't know much about the CAT X Connect in USSSA Drop 8, but we do know its coming and we can't wait to hit it. When it does drop and we can get our data gathered on the bat we will update this page.
Sizing: 29, 30, 31, 32-inch
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Serial: MSBCCX8
Bat Type: Hybrid
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
See other Drop 8 USSSA Bats
MCBCCX10

USSSA Drop 10 Review*

CAT X Connect USSSA Drop 10 Ratings (key)
2 5 4 3 4 5 4 4 5 4
MOI Tech Drb Flx Prof ReSl PlaRa ExVe Relv Dmnd
…
OVERALL*/10

Price It

Marucci Amazon SidelineSwap JustBats
We don't know much about the CAT X Connect in USSSA Drop 10, but we do know its coming and we can't wait to hit it. When it does drop and we can get our data gathered on the bat we will update this page.
Sizing: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32-inch
Release Date: September 8, 2022
Serial: MCBCCX10
Bat Type: Hybrid
Barrel Size: 2 5/8
See other Drop 10 USSSA Bats

Comparable Bats

We look at-bats like Louisville Slugger’s Select PWR as well as DeMarini’s the Goods as similar bats. Other less well-known bats that are similar are True Tempers HZRDUS line and Easton’s older Fuze Hybrid lines.

Previous Models

Cat X Connect

  • New Barrel Profile: Longer, Smoother shape to allow for a more consistent, wider performance area.
  • Same barrel as Cat X ~.5” lower balance point compare to Cat X Connect BBCOR.
  • Decent change in balance to fit more hitters.
  • Now just slightly more balanced the NOX, but still our power-hitters bat. 
  • New S40 handle, ~10 stiffer than Previous composite handle. Allows for faster energy transfer to the ball. 
  • 34mm hard taper modeled after for more top hand control and more ergonomic fit (similar to the most popular wood turn, AP5). This piece is removable if wanted. 
  • Now offering a 32.5” and 33.5” along with all normal sizes

Construction

The 2023 Marucci CAT X Composite is a two-piece hybrid bat made of an alloy barrel and a composite handle. The barrel is the same barrel you’ll find in the CAT X and the handle is the same handle you find on the CAT Composite. This is generally an endloaded bat built for bigger hitters.

Overall Ratings

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.

Download our data.