Marucci CATX Review | CAT9 Comparison, Cost, & More

The wait is over. Marucci has launched one of their most anticipated baseball bats of all time. The Marucci CATX is now available for purchase at JustBats. To help you better understand what you can expect from the CATX, our Bat Experts have compiled a complete breakdown including a comparison to the CAT9, the cost, and much more. We’ve also included a breakdown of the latest upgrades and the ways you can expect the CATX to benefit your swing. It’s an exciting time so let’s get right into the most comprehensive Marucci CATX bat review on the planet.

Marucci CATX vs. CAT9

“Is it just a color change?”

Our Bat Experts get this question all the time. To answer this question, no it is not. When compared to the CAT9, the CATX features new barrel profiles designed for overall better performance with lower balance points for faster swing speeds. The CATX also features the newest liquid-gel dampening knob, and almost every size has a new custom-sized handle taper. While the CAT9 is still one of the most prolific baseball bats in the game, the CATX has taken another step towards being the most complete bat in baseball.

Marucci CATX vs. CATX Vanta

Boasting a black and chrome look, the Marucci CATX Vanta is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Paired with a very clear Vanta logo, these baseball bats are the fastest of the fast and are guaranteed to help you steal the spotlight. With that said, outside of the sleek new cosmetic, the CATX and CATX Vanta bats are essentially the same. 

How much does the Marucci CATX cost?

• The Marucci CATX BBCOR bat will cost $379.95, while the USSSA drop 5, drop 8, and drop 10 versions will retail at $299.95.
• The Marucci CATX Connect BBCOR bat will cost $399.95, while the USSSA drop 5, drop 8, and drop 10 versions will retail at $379.95.
• The Marucci CATX Composite BBCOR bat will cost $499.95, while the USSSA drop 5, drop 8, and drop 10 versions will retail at $399.95. 
• The Marucci CATX USA Baseball bats will cost $199.95, while the CATX Connect USA Baseball bats will retail at $249.95.

Keep in mind that every bat purchased from us comes standard with free, fast shipping and a 12-month manufacturer's warranty, making JustBats the best place to buy any of the Marucci CATX baseball bats. 

Marucci CATX Bats

For the past decade, we have been tracking the meteoric rise of Marucci. Beginning with the Marucci CAT5 back in 2009, hitters around the world have been demanding to get their batting gloves on the game’s hottest one-piece alloy. Fast forward to today, and although Marucci has made some upgrades and adjustments, the CAT series still sets the standard for aluminum baseball bats. 

If you are new to the Marucci CAT series or just need a quick refresher, here is a list of the bat’s features:

• One-Piece Aluminum Construction
• Balanced Swing Weight
• AZR Alloy
• Creates a more responsive microstructure for an incredible feel and unbeatable performance
• Maintains durability and strength over the course of the baseball season
• Multi-Variable Wall Design
• Showcases one of (if not the) biggest sweet spots amongst alloy baseball bats
• Ring-Free Barrel Construction
• Eliminates dead spots while further improving flexibility and performance
• Micro-Perforated Bat Grip

Beyond these features that have become a staple in the series, we need to discuss the three new upgrades implemented in the Marucci CATX:

1. Upgraded Barrel Profile
2. Liquid-Gel Dampening Knob
3. Custom-Molded Handle Taper

Upgraded Barrel Profile

Marucci is constantly seeking out new ways to improve their most popular bat lineup. For this release of the CATX, they landed on one of the most challenging ideas a bat manufacturer can tackle. They wanted to lower the MOI (more balanced swing weight) while expanding the AZR Alloy sweet spot. So how were they able to pull it off? They redistributed the weight profile of the CAT9 evenly throughout the CATX barrel. This means that the CATX barrel design will be completely different from the previous models while providing hitters with an even larger advantage every time they step into the box. 

Liquid-Gel Dampening Knob

One of the advantages the Marucci CAT has over other competing one-piece alloy baseball bats is its anti-vibration technology. Over the past couple of models, the AV1 and AV2 knobs have dissipated stingers to protect the hands of hitters. This year, the Marucci CATX features a proprietary liquid gel design meant to absorb vibrations and create an even more comfortable swing. The results and reviews are still pending, but we anticipate this adjustment will propel the CATX towards being the most comfortable aluminum alloy baseball bat in this season and beyond.

Custom-Molded Handle Taper

The final bat upgrade might just be the most intriguing of the three. A new custom-molded handle taper is ergonomically designed for each weight drop for a better fit, more bat control, and a better overall feel between athlete and bat. Designed to be easily removable to fit athletes’ preferences, we believe this could be a game-changing feature. 

Marucci CATX Composite Bats

While the general public is most familiar with the traditional one-piece aluminum alloy CATX, it is important to give you a complete overview of the entire CATX lineup. Looking at the CATX Composite, it’s easy to see that Marucci has made some major modifications. For years, players have enjoyed the CAT Composite models, but they have often wanted a little more from the series. Whether that be a stiffer feel, a quicker break-in period, or simply higher levels of barrel performance on contact, there’s always been a feeling that the CAT Composite was a couple of slight adjustments away from asserting itself into the best composite baseball bat conversation.

CATX Composite Bat Features:

• Two-Piece Composite Baseball Bat
• Slightly End-Loaded / Balanced Swing Weight
• MDX Composite Material - Ultra Responsive Design
• Outer-Locking System - Creates the stiffest connection point amongst all composite baseball bats
• Ring-Free Barrel Construction
• Custom-Molded Handle Taper
• Micro-Perforated Bat Grip

Upgrades to the CATX Composite

There are two notable upgrades to the Marucci CATX Composite baseball bat. The latest release of the CAT Composite series now incorporates a stiff, S-40 handle. This helps efficiently transfer energy from a hitter’s swing to the end of the barrel. It allows hitters to leverage their swing better against the ball, aka providing more power to every swing. We believe this will create a most consistently proficient baseball bat that unlocks additional power in every hitter, regardless of their size.

The other upgrade is the Custom-Molded Handle Taper we previously discussed in the CATX bat review. Again, this feature will unlock a better feel and produce more bat control on each swing. The Marucci CATX Composite is currently available for purchase at JustBats.

Marucci CATX Connect Bats

Having already taken an in-depth look at both the one-piece aluminum alloy CATX and the fully composite CATX Composite, it’s now time to dive into the hybrid Marucci CATX Connect. Built with a player-friendly composite handle and AZR alloy barrel, the CATX Connect provides something for all styles of hitters. The new alloy barrel profile will arrive hot out of the wrapper and boast a noticeably larger sweet spot. Meanwhile, the composite S-40 handle will give hitters a stiffer feel on contact to generate more power with every swing. However, the most important feature to note about the CATX Connect baseball bats is the swing weight. Each CATX Connect bat will showcase a fully end-loaded, power-generating swing weight. While stronger hitters can reasonably expect more POP with their swings, we would recommend younger, smaller players approach the new Connects with caution as the end-loaded design could serve to be too heavy.

CATX Connect Bat Features:

• Two-Piece Hybrid Baseball Bat
• End-Loaded Swing Weight
• AZR Alloy Barrel
• S-40 Handle - Stiffer & More Powerful
• Ring-Free Barrel Construction
• Outer-Locking System - Creates the stiffest connection point among all composite baseball bats
• Custom-Molded Handle Taper
• Micro-Perforated Bat Grip

Baseball Bat Bros Marucci CATX Review

Watch Will and company break down Marucci’s hottest baseball bat. In the meantime, if you are interested in swinging the Marucci CATX, be sure to take advantage of our Bat Assurance Program. Select the baseball bat(s) you are interested in trying, add Bat Assurance at checkout, and begin your 30-day, risk-free trial on Marucci’s top baseball bats.

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The Marucci CATX is officially available to the public. This will be one of the most popular baseball bats in 2023-24, without a doubt. We anticipate a vast number of hitters, both contact and power alike, to be swinging the CATX next season. If you have any questions or comments for our Bat Experts, please feel comfortable reaching out to us at 866-321-2287, experts@justbats.com, or click here to live chat now. We’re JustBats and we’re with you from Click to Hit!