New rules for bats leading to fewer HRs

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — New bat rules aimed at keeping the ball in play and pitchers safer are having another effect at the Little League World Series: fewer home runs.

Until this season, bats frequently were made from reinforced carbon fiber polymer. The problem was that as they were used over time, the bats actually sent balls farther and at higher speeds — sometimes called the trampoline effect.

Under a new bat-performance standard from USA Baseball, bats in 2018 are now built to act more like the wooden bats used in the majors: less ping and less pop. While keeping pitchers and infielders safer from laser comebackers and line drives, coaches agree the new bats have less power.