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Hot Take: The best Marucci bat is the 2023 Marucci CAT X. It comes in all the leagues, has a wide range of sizes, prices out well compared to other top-end Marucci bats, and get great reviews.
Marucci has long graced our list of best bats. Year after year, they undoubtedly have a bat or two (or three) on top of our lists. They are a serious contender for the best bat line in the business. If you’re looking for the best bats Marucci makes, we’ve got you covered here.
Talk about trying to choose between a favorite child. Finding the ‘best’ Marucci CAT bat is an exercise in coin tossing. That said, we are fans of the current CAT X, thinking it is a real progression on the CAT 9, CAT 8, etc, etc. It does swing the lightest of the previous versions, so that’s worth mentioning.
If we had to go with the ‘best CAT Bat of all time’, how can we say anything but the original CAT 5-squared. The bat was dynamite and made illegal in the 33 and 34-inch because it was so hot. We’ve yet to find a bat better that can beat that 32-inch CAT 5 in a head-to-head exit velo comparison. Are there bigger barrels out there? Yes. Are there hotter bats? No.
We spend considerable time discussing the ins and outs of the best BBCOR bats here. And the CAT X Composite is a the top of our list. In short, we think its the right bat for the most hitters. It has a light swing, a huge barrel, and max-level performance.
There’s a sentiment among some that alloy is the only/best way to go with BBCOR. For some big hitters, that is no doubt true. But we like composite regarding overall performance, feedback, and swing weight. And, let’s face it, most hitters in high school need as much help as possible. If you’re an elite-level player, then alloy might be the right way. This is the bat if you’re a kid trying to figure it out.
It is tough to pass on the CAT X in USSSA; the bat is surely the best ‘value’. But, if money were irrelevant, composite is king in USSSA, and the CAT X Composite ticks all the boxes. A light, huge, top-performing bat that feels good all the time. Check, check, check. The Marucci USSSA bat is the CAT X Composite.
If you’re a beginner/novice/just getting your feet wet in the Marucci Wood Bat game, check out some blem-level wood bat options from Marucci. These are just like the real thing but have some form of cosmetic blem that doesn’t allow them to get top dollar. You can usually find them for sub $100.
If you want the best Marucci offers, you want the Professional Model lines directly from Marucci. These are, roughly, the same bats the big boys get, with the same quality of wood and attention to detail—lovely, lovely bats.
This is an easy pick as the Marucci CAT USA drop 11 is the ONLY USA Youth bat from Marucci. The good news, though, is that it’s legit good. If you want Marucci’s best youth bat, this is it.
We like the two-piece DMND over the single piece from Marucci. And although these bats still feel a bit behind sticks like the Easton Ghost and Slugger LXT, it’s a great step forward in Marucci’s attempt to dominate fastpitch land.
Marucci is a serious contender for the best bat line in the business, with top bats like the CAT X. Choosing the best Marucci CAT bat is tough, but we recommend the CAT X for its light swing and huge barrel. The CAT X Composite is the king of USSSA bats, while the Professional Model lines offer the best wood bats. For youth, the Marucci CAT USA drop 11 is the only option, and it’s a good one. The two-piece DMND is the best fastpitch bat from Marucci.