Why Do MLB Players Use Wooden Bats

Last Updated on February 6, 2024

There are different kinds of bats used in baseball games. You will come across many materials and designs. But MLB players use wooden bats. It is real food for thought. Why do MLB Players use wooden bats? I will tell you about it in this blog. As a coach for high school baseball players for more than a decade and an ex-AAA league player, I think I can fill up your curious mind about it until you are satisfied.

Types of Baseball Bats according to Materials

Wooden Bats

Wooden bats are the oldest one-piece baseball bats ever produced. Since the beginning of baseball, players have been playing with wooden bats. If you do not know the difference between one-piece and two-piece bats then you should read this blog first. 

First bats were made out of scrap wood or wood from cartwheel spokes. Once players had to make their own bats. Now you can find big names like Louisville Slugger making bats for you.

Following are the different kinds of wooden bats you may come across:

Maple Woods

Maple woods are heavy wooden bats. They have good durability and grain that can be transformed into a bat quickly giving good results. You can pick up the bat and use it any way you want.

Ash Woods

Ash woods are comparatively lighter than maple woods and you can make them make the perfect bat. Most bats nowadays are made out of Ash woods. MLB players often use Ash wood for their lightweight and durability.

Hickory Wood

Hickory is very hard and has a comparatively heavier weight. Because of durability, many bats from the old days were made out of hickory. 

Birch Wood

Birchwood is also heavier than maple or ash wood. But Birchwood is more durable than them. Still many birch wood bats are being manufactured everywhere.

Bamboo Bats

Bamboo bats are recent innovations that are being used at many games. But they are not for MLB games till now. Bamboo bats are often lightweight and easy to play with.

B. Aluminum Alloy Bats

Aluminum alloy bats are made out of high-quality aluminum alloys. The alloys you often see on planes or military-grade products. These are often one-piece bats with layers of inner walls. Many aluminum alloy bats are allowed in big league games and players often use them for their comfort.

C. Composite Bats

Composite bats are made out of composite materials, meaning blending different kinds of metals altogether. These bats are often two-piece bats joined with special designs. Composite bats are pretty popular and you can see them all the time in big league games, both at fastpitch and slowpitch games. Even in softball games, they are equally popular.

Composite bats need a break-in period. If the break-in is good then you can have high durability on the bats, Otherwise, the bats can break at any time.

Now, if you get a clear picture of what kinds of bats are being used at baseball games, then I will move forward to why wooden bats are being used by MLB players.

Why do MLB Players Use Wooden Bats

Force and Speed

Composite or Aluminum bats have high speed and force. These bats can come into contact with a ball and throw them far more than a wooden bat. As a result, the possibilities are that MLB players’ sheer force can surpass the expectation of normal games and do too much on the field. 

An aluminum bat’s average hitting speed is more than 100 which at a constant force can exhaust the player as well exhaust the fielders. Yes, the players do have that much force inside them.

So, it is a better choice to put some wooden bats in the field where the average speed can go up to 98.6mph.

Balancing the Equation

From the early period of baseball, wooden bats have been the standard for MLB games. Time has changed and college leagues are allowed to use aluminum bats as well as composite material bats on the field.

Composite material bats are good to play with and have a larger sweet spot and durability. 

But for keeping the stats matched with the old days, you cannot keep them compared to the aluminum or composite bats.

As a result, to balance the equation, you should use the same category bat those were used in the old days.

Otherwise, the stats of a metal bat user would go out of the charts. Which could never come to an equilibrium with the old big players who often used the wood bats.

That is why it is better to follow the traditions and put the focus on the wooden bats and use them in the MLB games. If the player is good, then a wooded bat is far more powerful than a metal bat.

Easy Replacement

Wooden bats are often replaceable. When it comes to wooden bats, the standard shape and size for a wooden bat are rather constant on the field. On the other hand, a metal bat can be difficult to replace within the game in case the bat gets damaged for the game. If you do not understand then let me tell you in detail.

Metal composite bats often need a break-in period before you can take them to the field. It is used on the training ground or practicing area first for the break-in.

Break-in means to play some balls consecutively with a quarter of rotation and throwing power, then using half force on both sides, then some more force, and at last, using full force from pitcher and batter.

In this way, if the break-in goes well then you can expect the high durability of a composite bat.

Otherwise, if you take a new composite bat or even an aluminum bat, then it may break or severe damage can be done to the bat even on the first few balls.

So, as a result, you cannot change a metal bat suddenly on the diamond field.

Especially, when it comes to the MLB, the players use all their force and speed to get the best out of the game. There you cannot expect them to ruin a match for a break-in of a composite bat once a player’s own bat gets broken all of a sudden.

That is why wooden bats are easily replaceable and the fittest bat to play with in MLB.

Safety First!

Last but not the least, the safety of the infielders and outfielders is a responsibility for everyone. 

MLB players, while focusing totally on the game, give their highest force and speed on the diamond field. 

If they are using their full force with a metal bat, you can expect the fielders to miss the ball often and let it slip to the gallery and to others.

Even if the players can survive a bad injury from the game by a ball hitting on their sensitive parts because of guards, a hard hitter’s contacted ball can go high in the air and hit a spectator in the stadium. 

Not only that, if the new bat is uncontrollable, there is no limit to how much a single ball can make damage everyone. From players to spectators, even media people, all of them may go inside the danger zone.

On the other hand, due to natural output, a wooden bat can help to reduce the speed and force. As a result, using them on the MLB field is quite a good choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why dont MLB players use Metal bats?

MLB players already have good speed and force. More impact on the force can harm the safety of other players and spectators. Besides, to keep the balance of stats with past MLB players, it is necessary for them to use wooden bats in the games.

2. Do all MLB players use wooden bats?

MLB games need the players not to use metal bats on the field. Rather, they are required to use wooden bats. Otherwise, the stats of present MLB players will not match with the old MLB players. Besides, with their force and speed, the safety of everyone can become an issue. 

3. Can you hit a baseball farther with a wooden or aluminum bat?

Yes, you can hit a baseball further with an aluminum bat compared to a wooden bat. If you are using an aluminum bat, then you will find that the bat can hit 1.71 meters more than hitting with a wooden bat.

4. Does hitting with a wooden bat hurt?

Hitting with a wooden bat may sting. Especially when it comes to mishits, you can expect a high amount of risk of sting with this kind of bat. Metal bats often apply methods to reduce the sting, but wooden bats cannot do much about it. 

Conclusion

So, now you understand if you are a true lover of baseball and would like to try your luck for MLB, you should try focusing on practicing with traditional wooden bats. If you want to know which bats are the best wooden bats along with metal bats, you should check out my other blogs.

Meta: You may have played with aluminum bats and composite bats, but MLB games require wooden bats to play with. You should read the blog for more information.