Marucci Sports

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Marucci
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustrySports equipment
Founded2003; 21 years ago (2003)
Founder
Headquarters,
Productsbaseball equipment
Owner
  • Compass Diversified Holdings (2020–23)
  • Fox Factory (2023–present)
Websitemaruccisports.com

Marucci Sports is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It focuses on baseball equipment, specifically producing bats, balls, gloves, batting gloves, batting helmets, and chest protectors.

On November 15, 2023, three years after being acquired by the investment firm Compass Diversified Holdings,[1] the company was purchased by Fox Factory for 572 million dollars.[2]

History[edit]

Marucci's bats were the most used in the MLB, with more than 40% of players.

Jack Marucci, LSU athletic trainer,[3] built his first baseball bat after he unsuccessfully tried to find a suitable one for his son Gino. The bat-making was just a hobby until Marucci associated with two MLB players, Kurt Ainsworth and Joe Lawrence. Ainsworth began recommending Marucci's bat to other players, and in 2009 he became one of Marucci's co-founders.[4]

As of 2013, Marucci bats were used by one-third of Major League Baseball players, like David Ortiz, José Bautista, Albert Pujols, Chase Utley, Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, and Bryce Harper.[5][3] In a relatively short period of time, Marucci took a large share of the baseball bat market from longtime industry leader Louisville Slugger, with industry tracking publications validating #1 bat in the majors since 2013 by a wide margin.[6][7]

While in 2006 Marucci supplied 4% of MLB players, by 2016 the company supplied 40%, with about 400-500 bats made a day.[3]

In 2020, Marucci Sports was acquired by American investment group Compass Diversified Holdings[8] for USD 200 million.[1]

They have made bats known as the Cat 6, Cat 7, Cat 8, Cat 8 Connect, Cat 9, Cat 9 Connect, and Cat 9 composite for USSSA baseball and BBCOR baseball. They have also made the Marucci F5, Marruci Cat, and Marucci Cat Connect for USA baseball which is mainly used in little league.

Sponsorships[edit]

Players[edit]

Carlos Correa holding a Marucci wood bat

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Here’s how the Marucci baseball bat biz went from the backyard to the big league by Conor Grant, March 9, 2020
  2. ^ "Fox Factory Completes Acquisition of Marucci Sports, Enhancing Combined Company's Ability to Deliver Diversified Revenue and Profitable Growth". Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  3. ^ a b c Marucci Becomes Iconic As MLB's Favorite Bat by Hunter Atkins on Forbes, 29 Feb 2016
  4. ^ About Marucci
  5. ^ Marucci bats got from tool shed to clubhouse one convert at a time by Joe Lemire, 10 Mar 2011
  6. ^ a b c "The Marucci Story told by Larry King". Marucci Sports. Marucci Sports. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  7. ^ Glier, Ray (October 1, 2013). "Louisville Slugger losing grip as bat of choice". usatoday.com. Atlanta, Georgia: USA Today. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Compass Diversified Holdings to Acquire Baseball Equipment Company Marucci Sports". 9 March 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  9. ^ "CARLOS CORREA'S MARUCCI CC14 MAPLE BAT". whatproswear.com. 2015. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Bringer of Rain Pro Model".
  11. ^ Glier, Ray (February 11, 2008). "Bat man of Louisiana finds way to majors by accident". usatoday.com. Baton Rouge, Louisiana: USA Today. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  12. ^ Glor, Jeff (April 4, 2012). "Marucci bats a hit with pro baseball players". CBS News. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  13. ^ Press Release (June 13, 2014). ""Inside the Marlins: In the Swing" set to premiere". marlins.mlb.com. Miami Marlins, MLB.com. Retrieved 7 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Julio Rodriguez 'JRODSHOW' Custom Pro Reserve".

External links[edit]