I haven't heard of blue ash lately. Is it no longer popular?

January 31, 2024

Hello!

Amazing baseball partners!

What is the material of wooden bats?

"Maple", "Aodamo", "Birch", "Ash"

is what comes to mind.

Is there one ingredient you haven't seen in baseball lately?

Yes, it's a blue ash!

This material was once famously used by Ichiro.

Why haven't I heard about it recently?

What is Aodamo
NPB players who used
Why it is no longer used

1. What is Aodamo?

Aodamo is a deciduous broadleaf tree belonging to the genus Fraxinus and the family Oleaceae, and is a type of tree native to Japan. This tree has long been popular as a material for wooden bats. Aodamo is characterized by its excellent hardness, durability, tenacity, and elasticity.

Characteristics of Aodamovat

Aodamo bats are known as the "king of bat materials" because of their ideal characteristics for a baseball bat. Specifically, they have the following characteristics:

Hardness and durability : Ash is extremely hard and durable. This makes the bat durable and strong enough to withstand long-term use.
Viscosity and elasticity : Ash is both resilient and elastic, and is said to have a very good feel when the bat hits the ball. This makes it easier to control the ball and provides a pleasant hitting feel for the batter.
Resilience and bat control : The Aodamo bat has a not-too-strong resilience, allowing for delicate bat control. This makes it suitable for more delicate batting than maple or white ash bats.

The difference between Chinese and Japanese green ash

There are many bats on the market made from Chinese ash, but Japanese ash is especially popular among professional baseball players. Japanese ash is of high quality and is characterized by its unique tenacity and elasticity. These characteristics of Japanese ash provide the high performance required for professional-level competition.

2. NPB players who used it

Ichiro (former Seattle Mariners, etc.)
- Ichiro Suzuki, who holds the record for 4,367 hits in Japan and the United States, achieved this historic feat using Aodamovat.
- His unique batting style and speed made use of the characteristics of the blue bat.
Hideki Matsui (former New York Yankees, etc.)
- Hideki Matsui, who batted fourth for the Giants and the New York Yankees and hit many home runs, was also a fan of Aodamovat.
- His powerful batting was made all the more striking by the hardness and durability of the blue ash.
Hiromitsu Ochiai (former Chunichi Dragons, etc.)
- Hiromitsu Ochiai, the first player in history to win the Triple Crown three times, was a fan of Aodamovat.
- His accurate and powerful strikes make the most of the properties of the blue ash.
Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels)
- Shohei Ohtani, the two-way player who has attracted worldwide attention, has also used Aodamovat in the past.

3. Why is it no longer used?

Depletion of domestically produced ash wood
- In the past, blue ash was the mainstream material for baseball bats in Japan, but it was cut down in large quantities to produce high-quality bats.
- Due to insufficient reforestation, the number of blue ash trees has drastically decreased and they are now in a serious state of depletion.
The slow growth of the blue ash
- It takes more than 70 years for a blue ash tree to grow into the ideal condition for a bat.
- This makes it extremely difficult to obtain a sustainable supply of blue ash, and it takes time for the resource to regenerate.
Limited yield
- Fewer than 10 bats can be obtained from a single fully grown ash tree. This limited yield has created an imbalance between supply and demand.

The current status of Aodamovat

Transition to other materials
- With the lack of a stable supply, many active players are switching from blue damobat to other materials.
- Other woods, such as maple and white ash, grow quickly and are easier to mass produce, making them alternatives to blue ash.
Increasing rarity value
- Due to the depletion of blue ash trees, blue ash bats have become a rare and highly valued material.
- This rarity increases the value of the blue damobat but also makes it difficult for average and amateur players to obtain.