Why the shift to maple bats caused a spike in baseball bat fractures.

Major League Baseball saw a surge in broken bats during games, leading to a safety investigation. This video explores the engineering differences between traditional ash and modern maple wood, and how updated grading standards helped stabilize the game.

In 2009, the MLB health and safety advisory committee identified the transition from ash to maple wood as the main driver behind an increase in bat failures. The two woods possess distinct engineering properties, and the way manufacturers graded bat blanks played a significant role in how frequently they shattered.

To address these safety concerns, the committee introduced new recommendations for grading maple blanks. These engineering adjustments proved effective, successfully cutting the rate of broken bats in half.

Source: Why do Baseball Bats Break?