We've spent considerable time with Rawlings 5150 line of bats. It is as familiar in the industry as any bat has ever been.
Models Overview
In some sense it defines the traditional single piece aluminum bat. No frills, no gimmicks, just a real bat from a real company that works year in and year out.
Construction & Technology
As it has been since the dawn of time, the 2019 Rawlings 5150 is a single piece aluminum bat. The original name comes from the use of 5150 alloy to make the bat. This is a common alloy used in all types of baseball bats (and aircraft). Rawlings has their own spin on the makeup of the bat.
The unique piece of Rawling's 5150 is a barrel construction that is referred to as POP 2.0. This uses a tapered barrel design to give it a bigger sweet spot, lower its swing weight and deliver a bigger barrel.
Performance Comparison
The 2019 5150 uses a lighter end cap that allows for a bigger barrel profile than the 2018 version. As well, the handle is thinner when compared directly to the 2018 version.
The other considerable difference worth noting is the lack of a drop 5 USA Bat version in the 2019 set. If you need that then look for the 2018. As well, the addition of the 29-inch BBCOR in the 2019 version is a welcome addition for the smaller player looking for his entry level bat into the BBCOR bat market.
Aside from those changes, which are noteworthy, the 5150 is the same, straight forward, single piece aluminum bat with a stiff feel and middle balance swing weight.
Comparable Bats
The most obvious comparison to the 2019 5150 is probably the 2019 Rawlings VELO (not pictured). The only differences between those two bats are the Velo uses a composite end cap to bring down the swing weight. Both of those two bats use the same barrel technology, grip and profile to produce a single piece bat.
Outside of the Rawlings brand a similar version is the Omaha 519 (Pictured). However, as you'll notice, the 519 is almost twice the price of the 5150 Rawlings. If you want a similarly priced bat check out something like the Rawlings BBCOR Threat for 2019 or Easton Speed.
Overall grade: B+
Overall grade: B
Overall grade: B
