Dodgers 1B Max Muncy is one of 400 MLBers who have used a MaxBat at some pointGETTY IMAGES
Minnesota-based bat maker MaxBat has seen its revenue double to roughly $2M from a decade ago, in part because of the "big names and big organizations using its products," according to Patrick Rehkamp of the MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL BUSINESS JOURNAL. MaxBat said that at least 400 current and former MLBers have "used its bats at one point." They include Dodgers 1B Max Muncy and LF Joc Pederson and Padres 1B Wil Myers. While it sells bats to about 30% of MLB’s organizations, the company is "facing headwinds." In order to stay ahead, MaxBat has "expanded to other products and is working on grabbing players younger to build loyalty." MaxBat makes up to 40,000 bats annually, but "sales to the pros aren’t as good as they were roughly five years ago." Big bat makers now "sponsor players to use their bats, and they can provide more accessories and gear." MaxBat has to be "extremely careful in how it advertises because of restrictions MLB has put in place." MaxBat VP & Dir of Sales Jim Anderson said, "We can’t even say we’re Major-League approved." Rehkamp noted MaxBat is "doubling down on getting bats in minor league players’ hands." The company also recently "started making more trophy bats, which are full-sized bats used for gifts and office awards." The trophy bats account for about 10% of the company’s "overall revenue" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 8/15).
