If you walk into the Los Angeles Angels clubhouse and look for the most consistent thing in the building, it isn’t the Gatorade flavors or the pre-game playlist. It’s the rack of lumber sitting by Mike Trout’s locker.
Since he was a teenager in Millville, New Jersey, Mike Trout has been remarkably particular about his tools. While other superstars jump from brand to brand chasing the biggest endorsement check or the latest "carbon-mapped" technology, Trout has stayed loyal. He swings the Old Hickory MT27.
It’s a partnership that’s lasted over a decade. Honestly, it’s one of the longest-running "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" stories in modern sports.
The Anatomy of the MT27: More Than Just Wood
Most people think a bat is just a bat. It's not. For a guy who creates the kind of exit velocity Trout does, the specific dimensions of the wood are basically a mathematical equation for home runs.
The MT27 is actually a modified version of the Old Hickory J143M. When Trout first got his hands on it, he liked the barrel but wanted a few tweaks. Specifically, he wanted a very thin handle. We’re talking 29/32 of an inch. That’s skinny.
Breaking Down the Specs
The bat typically features a 2.5-inch barrel. That’s considered a medium-to-large barrel, but the magic is in the balance. It’s not "end-loaded" like the bats used by pure power hitters who just want to swing a heavy sledgehammer. Trout is a hybrid. He needs the bat to be "whippy" enough to catch up to 100 mph heaters but dense enough to drive a ball 450 feet.
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- Wood Type: Rock Maple (almost exclusively).
- Handle: Thin (0.92 inches) with a standard knob.
- Barrel: Long and cupped at the end.
- Balance: Extremely balanced swing weight.
The cupped end is a small but vital detail. By hollowing out a little bit of the wood at the very tip, the manufacturers shift the center of gravity back toward the hitter's hands. This makes the bat feel lighter than it actually is. It gives Trout that legendary "bat speed" that allows him to wait a split second longer before deciding to crush a pitch.
Why Old Hickory?
It’s a small company out of Goodlettsville, Tennessee. They aren’t the massive corporate machine that some of the other bat brands are. But Trout likes the personal touch.
Legend has it that in his rookie year, Trout only ordered about 50 bats for the entire season. For context, some MLB players go through 100 or 150. He takes care of his lumber. He doesn't break many because he hits the ball on the "sweet spot" more consistently than almost anyone in history.
You've probably noticed the Ink Dot on his bat. That’s not just a logo. MLB requires all maple bats to have an ink dot on the grain. It shows the slope of the grain. If the ink spreads out too much, the grain isn't straight enough, and the bat might shatter into dangerous "multi-piece" fragments. Trout’s bats always have a perfect grain—the highest "Pro Grade" available.
The Secret "Steel Pressing" Process
If you buy a retail version of the Mike Trout baseball bat today, you might see a "Steel Pressed" option. This is something Old Hickory does to make the wood even harder.
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They take a hardened steel rod and roll it over the barrel with immense pressure. What does this do? It compresses the wood fibers. Basically, it makes the surface of the bat more like a rock. When the ball hits a compressed maple surface, it doesn't "sink" into the wood as much, meaning more energy is transferred back into the ball.
Basically, it's legal cheating. It's just making the wood as dense as humanly possible.
Personal Touches and Game Use
If you ever get lucky enough to see a game-used Trout bat up close, look at the handle. Trout is a fan of Lizard Skins grip tape. He usually wraps it in a spiral pattern that goes about 10 inches up the handle.
He also uses a decent amount of pine tar—or more specifically, Mota Stick. It gives the bat a brownish, tacky look. If you see a bat on the auction block that is "clean" and says it was used by Trout, be skeptical. The man likes his grip. He wants that bat to feel like an extension of his arms.
The "MT" Markings
Trout doesn't always have his number "27" stamped on the knob. In many seasons, he’s been known to just write "MT" in pencil or silver marker on the end. It’s a blue-collar approach for a guy who is anything but a blue-collar athlete on the field.
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How to Swing Like Trout (Or at Least Try)
Buying the bat won't give you 20/20 vision or the legs of a track star, but it helps to understand how he uses it.
- Don't over-swing. The MT27 is designed for balance. If you're using a bat this balanced, focus on hand speed rather than "loading up" your shoulders.
- Trust the Maple. Maple is stiffer than Ash. It doesn't flex as much. This means if you hit it off the end or near the handle, it’s going to sting. But if you hit the sweet spot? It’s gone.
- Maintain the Wood. Keep your bat away from damp areas. Wood absorbs moisture, which makes it heavy and "dead." Trout keeps his bats in a climate-controlled environment for a reason.
If you’re a high school or college player looking to transition to wood, the MT27 is actually one of the best models to start with. Because it’s so similar to a 243 turn model but feels more balanced, it doesn't feel like you're swinging a log. It feels fast.
The reality is that Mike Trout's success isn't just about the wood. It's about the guy holding it. But having a piece of maple that is hand-selected and steel-pressed to your exact specifications certainly doesn't hurt when you're facing a 98 mph slider.
Next time you watch an Angels game, look for the black barrel and the natural wood handle. That's the MT27. It's been there for three MVPs, and it'll likely be there until the day he hangs up the cleats.
If you are looking to pick one up for yourself, make sure you look for the Custom Pro designation. The "stock" models are fine for practice, but the Custom Pro is what actually matches the density and grain quality that Trout uses on the field every night in Anaheim.