Warstic Bonesaber Baseball Bat Compliant for High School Use; Some Third-Party Handle Wrappings Illegal

MOUNT PROSPECT, ILLINOIS (April 8, 2024) – Some issues have been raised about the Warstic Bonesaber baseball bat and if it meets the standards for high school use by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). The bat itself is not a problem but some of the third-party wrappings used on the handle are not compliant for use in high school games.

The Warstic Bonseaber -3 bat meets the BBCOR performance standard and is an NFHS compliant non-wood baseball bat for high school varsity competition. The non-traditional bat knob also meets NFHS Rule 1-3-2b1 and there is no issue with that style, according to Elliot Hopkins, the Director of Sports, Sanctioning and Student Services for NFHS and the liaison to the baseball rules committee. Hopkins said the model was brought to the attention of NFHS because of the egregious nature of the rewrapping of the bat.

An email from the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) to the state’s athletic directors and baseball coaches said wrappings are permitted except those that cause the knob to become flush with the handle. A one-piece rubber knob and bat grip combination is illegal.

The email said many of the photos the MHSAA received show the third-party bat wrappings added to the bat were applied incorrectly and caused the knob to be flush with the handle, causing the bat to be illegal per NFHS Rule 1-3-5, which states, “Bats that are altered from the manufacturer’s original design and production, or that do not meet rule specifications, are illegal (7-4-1s).” NFHS Rule 7-4-1a states, “A batter is out when, a) the batter enters the batter’s box with an illegal bat (1-3-5) or is discovered having used an illegal bat. If the infraction is discovered before the next pitch following the turn at bat of the player who used an illegal bat, the defense may take the penalty or the result of the play.”