Homerun: Wood or Carbon Fiber?

Since the beginning of the current Cuban National Series, the graphite bat has been legally and routinely used in our championship. Initially rejected by many and considered illegal, the bat is made of carbon fiber and turns out to be more resistant on impact with the Mizuno 150 ball; so resistant that, to date, less than one bat is broken per game, making it more economical. Initially emerging in the ’80s as a substitute for aluminum, graphite stopped being used as material for bats until the late ’90s. The primary customers were little leagues, mainly in the U.S., and softball leagues. The strongest reason for its use was its resistance compared to wooden bats and its low tendency to allow vibration compared to aluminum.

Although it is considered illegal in international events and in any other major tournaments in the world (for example, U.S. Major League Baseball or the Japanese Professional League), its use is not banned completely. However, due to the fact that it is lightweight and sometimes lighter than aluminum, there could be adjustment problems in timing for the hitter’s swing during international events — when they have to brandish bats that the IBAF stipulates.

A look at this current National Series (in which some players are still using wood) shows a rise in the increase of multidimensional hits. Well, you could blame the new material, but this number has grown in recent years. The home run record set by the Santiago-born Alexei Bell, and the fact that a year later Santiago/Granma-born Alfredo Despaigne will surpass it, attests to this. Still, we must not forget that when wood was again used in the late twentieth century, the number of home runs decreased, simply because a less lively ball was being used in the rest of the world.

What should be of greater concern for the managers of baseball in Cuba is: How will our hitters handle the transition from graphite to wood when they have to face foreign pitchers?