2018 Marucci Hex Alloy Review | We Got a Screamer

In terms of quality, the 2018 Marucci Hex Alloy sits somewhere between the CAT 7 and the Marucci F5, but it also fills in a size the CAT 7 does not come in*. That is, the Hex Alloy only comes in a USSSA 2 3/4 drop 10.  If that is your niche, and you want a CAT 7, then we would recommend the Hex Alloy as a reasonable, and less expensive, substitute. *The Buster Posey Pro Metal bat is technically a CAT 7 in a drop 10 2 3/4. These, however, are limited in quantity. Note, too, this bat uses an upgraded alloy from the 2015 version of the bat with the same name. And that upgraded alloy makes a monster barrel with a very loud ping. Like, very loud. It does not, however, come with the same anti-vibration knob that has helped make the CAT 7 as famous as it is. Here are some general guidelines as to who we think will and will not like the Marucci Hex Alloy.

Compared to the 2015/16 version of this bat, which we affectionately called the skittle, the 2018 Marucci Hex Alloy 2 boasts a larger barrel with a slightly lower swing weight. This is made possible by thinning out the barrel walls with a more expensive aluminum alloy. The bat will continue to be made in the drop 10 2 3/4 Senior barrel bat. Our guess is this will find a lot of takers. But the 2 1/4 youth barrel bat will not exist in the 2018 version. The reasons for this are obvious enough: Little League is no longer using BPF 1.15 bats, but instead are moving to a USABat standard. From our conversations with Marucci, they will not be making a USABat anytime soon and likely anytime ever.