The Marucci CAT Connect baseball bat is a high-performance bat featuring AZ105 Alloy, the strongest aluminum in the Marucci bat line. The Multi-Variable Wall Design expands the sweet spot and thins the barrel walls for improved forgiveness, while the SDX LT vibration-dampening layer reduces sting and weight. It comes in an USA and BBCOR model. The AV2 knob enhances feel and vibration feedback. With its powerful performance and innovative features, the CAT Connect is a top-choice for hitters seeking a high-quality bat.
Best Marucci Baseball Bats
New year, new gear: we're here to help you find the perfect Marucci bat for the new season. We collaborate with players and gear experts to review each bat based on pop (energy transfer to the ball), durability (resistance to breaking), and vibration (feedback outside the sweet spot). Rankings are updated weekly based on SidelineSwap sales data.
Meet Our Experts
Tony is the founder of North Texas Baseball Club (est. 2008) which provides an environment where youth baseball players can maximize their potential.
Dylan has been playing baseball for 15+ years. He loves every aspect of the game and has spent time testing equipment from gloves to bats to cleats.
The Marucci CAT X Connect Baseball Bat, available in BBCOR and USSSA versions, features a two-piece hybrid design with an AZR alloy barrel and a stiff S-40 composite handle. Its Ring-Free barrel offers a large sweet spot for consistent power, while the 10 times stiffer S-40 handle ensures faster energy transfer and minimizes vibration. This design enhances performance and increases the chance of home runs.
The CATX Connect is a hybrid bat. It's a strong performer. It's top five in the hybrid market. Very easy to swing, very well balanced. There's a good nature to it; it doesn't dent. It's very durable. But it is an end-loaded bat and a two-piece hybrid, so it's more designed for the power hitter and for stronger players.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci CAT X Composite Bat comes in both BBCOR and USSSA versions. It features a stiff S-40 composite handle for a balanced swing, making it ideal for developing hitters. The finely tuned composite barrel offers a large sweet spot for a trampoline effect on well-struck balls, while the outer-locking system reduces vibration for a comfortable feel, helping players focus on their swings.
The CAT X composite is absolutely amazing! My son loves the balanced, light swing weight. He says it really feels like an extension of his arms. The bat has loads of pop and no ringing, even on miss hits. The USSSA CatX Composite is an A+ .
@Daumcii, Parent Review
The Marucci CAT X Baseball Bat features both BBCOR and USSSA certifications and is a single-piece alloy bat with a well-sized barrel and excellent feel. Its multi-variable wall Ring-Free barrel provides consistent power across leagues, while the stiff S-40 composite handle offers a balanced swing weight and reduces vibration for improved comfort. The CAT X also features liquid-gel in the knob which reduces vibrations throughout the hands.
CATX came out in 2023. The first gen is a white ribbon silver bat. For the second run, Marucci came out with a version called the CATX Vanta. It's a blacked-out, limited-edition. Both gens are an alloy one-piece bat, both very strong performers. They took the alloy and strength from the CAT9 and applied the balance and feel from the CAT8 to develop the CATX.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci CAT 9 features a single piece of aluminum with multivariable wall thickness, extending the sweet spot and reducing swing weight. The CAT9 features a Ring-free barrel which allows for more flex within the barrel and minimizes dead spots through the bat. This model includes new technologies like the AV2 knob to dampen sting on mishits and is available in BBCOR, USSSA, and USA versions.
My son really likes the CAT9. He likes the weight distribution and how it feels when he catches it clean with his “A” swing. He also feels like there’s a margin for error on his “B/C” swings. It’s his first BBCOR, which has helped make the transition to the big field manageable.
@Tjh19, Parent Review
The Marucci CAT USA baseball bat is packed with power and precision. The CAT features AZ105 Alloy, Marucci's strongest aluminum for a thinner, more responsive barrel. The Multi-Variable Wall Design expands the sweet spot and enhances durability, while the second-generation AV2 knob provides superior feel and vibration control.
The Marucci CAT is designed for Little League. It has that USA stamp, which means it has a lightweight feel and good control. The CAT has an affordable price point, so it won't break the bank. A lot of parents get this bat specifically because it's a quality bat with a good bang for the buck.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci F5 Baseball Bat features a one-piece alloy construction that combines a traditional feel with modern performance. Its multi-variable wall design expands the sweet spot, while the balanced swing weight offers effortless control for both power hitters and contact players. With a precision-balanced barrel for faster speeds and a micro-perforated grip for comfort, the F5 is ideal for youth, high school, and collegiate athletes seeking to elevate their game.
The Marucci CATX2 is a one-piece alloy construction that offers a traditional feel. The Liquid-Gel Dampening Knob absorbs vibrations for enhanced comfort, while the bat's Ring-Free Barrel ensures consistent performance across the entire barrel. This aims to eliminate dead spots. Additionally, the CATX2 features an increased barrel length, providing a larger sweet spot for more powerful contact.
The Marucci CAT 8 features AZ105 Alloy, the strongest aluminum in Marucci's lineup, allowing for thinner barrel walls and improved durability. It has an expanded sweet spot and a 2nd generation AV2 Anti-Vibration Knob for better feel. With its one-piece alloy construction and tapered handle with a soft-touch grip, batters gain better control at the plate.
The CAT8 is an older model from 2019 and a good BBCOR and USSSA bat. Very good performing bat with a sound that players love. Lightweight and easy to swing. It's probably one of the best sellers, and since the CAT8 is still available, it's perhaps one of the better bang for the buck. Prices dropped for this older model. So, it is a good match for an entry-level player on a tight budget.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci CAT X Vanta Baseball Bat features a one-piece alloy construction made from aerospace-grade aluminum, combining strength and performance. With a multi-variable wall thickness, it offers an extended sweet spot and faster swing speeds. The ring-free barrel technology ensures consistent power, while its precision-balanced design and soft-touch grip provide excellent feel and control, minimizing vibrations on off-center hits.
The Vanta was supposed to be a limited edition but they ended up mass producing it. It's the same thing at the CatX but just a different color. They made it black instead of white. It has a bit of an end loaded feel to it. Everyone likes the Marucci grips, when kids pick it up they always say it "feels great in their hands."
@AAABats, Coach Review
Designed for a traditional, balanced swing, the Marucci AM22 Pro Model Maple Bat is crafted from premium maple wood for exceptional contact and power. Its thick handle and tapered knob offer a comfortable grip and optimal control while its fog-whitewash finish adds a classic aesthetic. Ideal for players seeking a reliable, high-performance bat
The AM22 is a very well balanced wood bat. It's for the kid that is just starting to get into wood because it swings really light. It's a very easy bat to control. Not really for your power hitters.
@AAABats, Coach Review
The Marucci CAT 9 Connect is designed for hitters who prefer an end-loaded feel and enhanced power. It features a multi-stage-treated AZR alloy barrel paired with a carbon composite handle, creating a large sweet spot. The stiffer connection reduces vibration and maximizes power, while the end-loaded swing weight helps generate bat speed for crushing pitches.
The CAT9 Connect is going to be in the same market as the Select Power, The Goods, and the Voodoo. It's a two-piece hybrid alloy barrel with a composite handle. It's a top-three bat for me. Very good performer and very popular. Just a great overall product.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci CAT 9 Composite bat is a two-piece composite bat found in USSSA, USA, and BBCOR. Unlike its alloy counterparts within the CAT series, the CAT 9 Composite provides a massive barrel and balanced swing. The connection piece helps absorb mishit balls’ sting and is identical to the one used on the BBCOR CAT 8 Connect.
The CAT9 Composite comes in two designs across two generations. The first, released in 2021, is gray, black, and red. And then it came out in red, white, blue, and gray. The first model was a more powerful, higher-performing bat. It has more exit velocity and is a hotter bat than the 2nd gen. Very durable, with very little breakage. Marucci's, across the board, have been good bats in terms of quality; they seem to last. Whether you're a power hitter or a small kid, the CAT9 Composite does very well.
@BatExperts, Expert Review
The Marucci Cat 7 baseball bat is a powerful one-piece alloy design, made with innovative AZ4X alloy for increased strength and a higher response rate. This technology translates to a larger sweet spot with more pop, even on off-center swings. The precision-balanced barrel also allows for faster swing speeds to generate more power.
The Marucci AP5 Pro Model wood bat is built for power hitters. This bat helps control powerful swings with a tapered knob and traditional handle design—a combination that maximizes bat speed and power potential while maintaining some feel for the barrel during the swing. The AP5 is Bone rubbed for ultimate wood density, and it prioritizes power with a touch of control.
Crafted from top-quality maple for a classic feel, the Marucci JB19 has a balanced swing weight and a large barrel profile—a combination that delivers a sweet spot that's both forgiving and powerful. The JB19 prioritizes a smooth swing and well-rounded performance, making it a great choice for advanced hitters who prefer the feel and pop of a wood bat.
The Marucci Posey28 baseball bat features a patented anti-vibration knob that absorbs vibrations from mishits, protecting players' hands. The variable wall thickness in the barrel allows hitters to tune the bat's performance at different parts, creating a wider sweet spot and maximizing power. With its innovative technology and focus on player comfort, the Marucci Posey28 is a top-choice for hitters seeking a high-performance bat.