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Louisville Slugger has been a part of baseball for around well over a century. In 2025, after almost 30 years, it will no longer be the official bat of Major League Baseball.
Since 1997, Major League Baseball had an agreement making Louisville Slugger the official bat supplier of the league. This year, however, that honor goes to Marucci Sports, makers of Marucci and Victus baseball bats.
“After careful consideration, Louisville Slugger made the decision to forgo our sponsorship status as the Official Bat of MLB starting with the 2025 season,” Rick Redman, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Hillerich & Bradsby, which makes LS bats for Wilson, said in a statement provided to The Athletic. “Louisville Slugger will remain an important supplier to Major League players. They, like millions of ballplayers and fans, recognize that our iconic brand is synonymous with this great game. … Now in our 141st year, Louisville Slugger continues to be the industry leader in product innovation, quality, and design.”
Marucci was founded by two former pro baseball players, Kurt Ainsworth and Joe Lawrence, and their athletic trainer, Jack Marucci, in 2002.
“Change is tough, I will give MLB a lot of credit,” Ainsworth said. “They made a lot of changes to the game to make it better. They are bringing in a more youthful audience if you will, making the game faster. … We saw an opportunity with this new regime and the changes they are making, to come in and do something different.”
According to The Athletic, over 50 percent of Major League Baseball players swung bats provided by Marucci or Victus in 2024. Marucci purchased Victus in 2017.
“Louisville Slugger is an iconic brand,” said Ainsworth. “Everyone knows Louisville Slugger, so for us to take that designation (of official MLB bat) and (mark) the first time anyone else outside of Louisville Slugger has held that, it is something that is really special.”