Baseball bat: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

In baseball, a bat is a round, smooth stick used in hitting the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is not more than 2 3/4 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The batter uses the bat in an attempt to hit a pitched ball fair so that he may become a runner, advance bases, and ultimately score a run or help preceding runners to score.

In professional baseball, only wooden bats are permitted. In amateur baseball, both wood and metal alloy bats are permitted.

In high school baseball in the United States, the bat is not allowed to be more than 2 5/8 inches in diameter, nor may its weight in ounces be numerically less than its length in inches minus three.

In most 12-year-old-and-under youth leagues (such as Little League Baseball, PONY League Baseball, and Cal Ripken League Baseball), the bat may not be more than 2 1/4 inches in diameter.

See also: corked bat