NEW YOUTH USA BAT STANDARD

Little League, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Junior League and many Travel Programs and Tournaments

You may have heard about a new USA Baseball Bat Standard (USABat) that will be implemented January 1, 2018.  This page is meant to keep you up to date on all current information. The new Bat Regulation affects those playing Little League, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, Junior League and many Travel Programs and Tournaments, all-though not all.

Here's what you need to know:

For starters, the rule change does NOT go into effect until January 1, 2018, so all current youth baseball bats, which are marked with a 1.15BPF stamp, will continue to be legal in Little League®, Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken, PONY, Dixie and AABC through December 31st, 2017.

On January 1, 2018 USA Baseball will be implementing a rule change to the bats. If you are 14 years old or younger and play Little League®, Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken, PONY, Dixie or AABC, you will need to use a new bat marked with a new USA Baseball stamp:

The bats currently on the market, which are marked with a 1.15BPF stamp, will no longer be legal for play in these leagues.

USSSA youth baseball will NOT be implementing this rule change to the bats. So if you are 14 years old or younger and you play on some travel ball teams, or are playing in a tournament governed by USSSA, you can continue to use the bats marked with the 1.15BPF stamp indefinitely.  All current model approved bats marked with the 1.15BPF stamp will be allowed in USSSA play for all events extending beyond January 1, 2018. 

Additionally, beginning on January 1, 2018, under the new USA Baseball rule, all players 14 and under (not including Tee-Ball) will be able to use approved USA Baseball 2-5/8" barrels in Little League®, Babe Ruth & Cal Ripken, PONY, Dixie and AABC.

Bats marked with the new USA Baseball stamp will NOT be available for purchase until after September 1, 2017. Many of the new bats will not be available until mid October or later.

As we get closer to the start of the 2018 season, we will continue to update this page with additional information. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to help make this transition as easy as possible!

Lefty's will carry a full line of New "USA" Bats from Easton, DeMarini, Louisville and Rawlings. We are sure to offer the best prices anywhere!

Information was taken from the USA and Easton Web Sites.