Ranking Top Brands for Youth Baseball Bats

1. DeMarini

DeMarini continues to set the bar high for youth baseball bats. They continue to use high quality materials and improve their designs each year. Their bats are very popular among youth baseball players and continue to dominate bat racks each season. 

These bats are typically two-piece and have a balance point that is very close to the handle, meaning that the bat is not top heavy and is easy to swing. They also have more flex than other bats, but whether that matters to you or not is just personal preference. DeMarini uses very high quality aluminum that causes their bats to be very durable. This also means that the bats are ready to use right when you get them. Some bats take a couple hundred swings in the cage to "break in". This is not the case for DeMarini as their bats are at their best right when you leave the store. 

Some of the top bats DeMarini offers are the CF8, the Voodoo series, and the NVS Vexxum. The CF8 can be purchased for about $249, while the Voodoo and NVS Vexxum can be purchased from anywhere from $100-$200 if you know where to look. These bats are pricey compared to the other brands, but you will certainly be getting your money's worth. DeMarini makes the best youth baseball bats by far.

2. Easton

Easton is better known for their one-piece bats, so if you are one that likes the extra power that a one-piece bat provides, then Easton may be the brand for you. They make the most popular one-piece youth baseball bats and by a wide margin. While these aren't the most popular bats in dugouts, you will always be able to find at least a few Easton bats hanging around. 

What Easton does well with their models is that they limit the amount of vibration that occurs when you hit the ball off the handle or end of the bat. Also, if you do happen to hit the ball of off these parts, it will travel noticeably farther than a DeMarini bat or any other one-piece bat. The only downside about Easton is that their models don't have a balance point that is close to the handle. However, if you are a player that can get your hands through the zone quick, you will be able to make the ball travel very far. 

The top models for Easton are the MAKO, the S series, and the XL series. The MAKO can be bought for $279 and up, while the S series and XL series can be found from anywhere between $49-$199. If you are able to get one of these bats through the zone, an Easton bat can be a great investment for you. 

3. Marucci

Marucci doesn't make very many models, but the models they do make are made with very high quality composite and have a lot of pop. They specialize in making one-piece bats, much like Easton. While they aren't nearly as popular as Easton, Marucci bats still provide that same pop that a one-piece bat should have.

Marucci bats are fairly easy to swing, but there is not much give when in comes to hitting the ball off the handle or end. If you happen to hit the ball off a bad part of the bat, it will sting. The balance point is closer to the handle than Easton, but not as close as DeMarini.  Also, a Marucci bat does not have as much pop as an Easton bat, but still more than a DeMarini.

The top models for Marucci are the Cat 6 and the Hex series. The Cat 6 costs about $200, while the Hex series costs about $129. These bats aren't nearly as specialized as the others, but they are good all around bats that should last you for at least a season if not longer.

For more info on youth baseball bats, check out Everything Baseball