The emerald ash weevil strikes ash bats in Major League Baseball

Imagine a baseball season without the iconic crack of an ash bat. That could become a reality thanks to the emerald ash borer, a tiny beetle that is causing massive destruction to ash trees across North America.

For decades, ash has reigned supreme in baseball bats. From legendary players like Babe Ruth to modern sluggers like Mark McGwire, ash has been the go-to material for its feel and performance. Companies like Hillerich & Bradsby, makers of the Louisville Slugger, produced hundreds of thousands of ash bats each year.

However, the emerald ash borer has changed the game. This invasive insect, the size of a grain of rice, attacks ash trees by laying its eggs under the bark. The larvae then feed on the tree’s vital nutrients, eventually killing it. Since its arrival in the United States in 2002, the ash borer has spread rapidly, leaving behind a trail of dead and dying ash trees.

The impact on baseball has been rapid. Finding quality ash lumber is becoming increasingly difficult. Companies like Hillerich & Bradsby have had to adapt, now producing mostly low-end ash bats for occasional use. Major League Baseball players, once loyal to ash, have switched to maple bats, which offer advantages in hardness and consistency.

Ash’s future in baseball looks bleak. Even if scientists can control the emerald ash borer, it could take generations for ash trees to recover. While other woods, such as birch, are being explored, they have yet to capture the hearts (or ears) of players.

This change marks the end of an era for baseball. The sound of the ash bat hitting the ball, a sound synonymous with the game for so long, may be fading. The future of baseball bats belongs to maple, for now, leaving ash bats as a relic of a bygone era.