2017 Rawlings 5150 BBCOR Bat Review
Rawlings' workhorse BBCOR alloy, the 2017 5150 pairs aerospace-grade aluminum with pOp 2.0 barrel tuning for a balanced swing and the unmistakable 5150 ping. A no-frills, durable, value-priced bat that has long been a high-school staple.
There's a newer version available. See the 2023 5150 — the current model → 7.9/10The Score
How we score ↗How big and forgiving the barrel is — based on barrel length, construction (one- vs two-piece, alloy vs composite), and how it plays on balls hit off the center. A primary driver of the overall score.
This bat: pOp 2.0 tuning expands the sweet spot for a one-piece alloy.
Raw exit velocity and distance. We use measured numbers from freely available independent testing when they exist; otherwise construction and consensus, judged against the certification’s performance ceiling. A primary driver of the overall score.
This bat: Aerospace 5150 alloy gives honest, hot-from-day-one pop.
Comfort and feedback on contact — vibration dampening from the knob/connection, the sting of a stiff one-piece vs a smooth two-piece, and the sound off the barrel. A primary driver of the overall score.
This bat: Stiff one-piece feel, a bit busy on off-center contact.
How well it holds up and how the company stands behind it — documented cracking/denting reports, cold-weather behavior, and the brand’s real warranty record. Good to know, but weighted lightly in the score.
This bat: One-piece 5150 alloy is built to last a full season.
Our take on price-for-performance — the overall package weighed against its cost and what comparable bats run. Shown for context; it is NOT factored into the overall score (price changes too often and is personal).
This bat: One of the best price-to-performance alloy BBCORs around.
Why this score: The 2017 5150 is a classic value alloy BBCOR: durable, hot out of the wrapper, and easy to swing, with a sweet spot tuned up by pOp 2.0. It scores high on durability and value and is held back only by the stiff one-piece feel and a balanced build that won't please end-load hitters.
Our Review
The 2017 Rawlings 5150 is a one-piece, all-alloy BBCOR bat built from Rawlings' aerospace-grade 5150 aluminum, the brand's most responsive alloy and the source of that recognizable metallic ping. New for this version was pOp 2.0 technology, which isolates excess weight into a smaller region to improve balance while enlarging the sweet spot for more consistent contact. It swings balanced and is ready to go straight out of the wrapper with no break-in, and the one-piece alloy construction is built for all-season durability. The trade-offs are the ones common to one-piece alloy: a stiffer, busier feel on mishits and a balanced profile that won't satisfy hitters who want extra mass out toward the end cap. As an affordable, dependable high-school bat, the 5150 has earned its long-running popularity.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 5150 aerospace-grade alloy is hot out of the wrapper with no break-in
- pOp 2.0 barrel tuning balances the swing and expands the sweet spot
- One-piece alloy durability holds up all season at a friendly price
Cons
- One-piece alloy transmits more feedback than a two-piece on mishits
- Balanced build lacks the end-load some power hitters prefer
Full Specifications
| Brand | Rawlings |
|---|---|
| Model | 5150 |
| Model Year | 2017 |
| Certification | BBCOR |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Construction | One-piece alloy (5150 aerospace-grade) |
| Model # | BB75 |
| Drop | -3 |
| Barrel | 2 5/8" |
| Swing Weight | Balanced |
| MSRP | — |
Where to Buy
2017 Rawlings 5150 BBCOR Bat — FAQ
Is the 2017 Rawlings 5150 a good BBCOR bat?
We rate it 7.9/10 (Grade B). Rawlings' workhorse BBCOR alloy, the 2017 5150 pairs aerospace-grade aluminum with pOp 2.0 barrel tuning for a balanced swing and the unmistakable 5150 ping. A no-frills, durable, value-priced bat that has long been a high-school staple.
What drops does the 5150 come in?
The 2017 5150 BBCOR comes in -3.
Is the Rawlings 5150 BBCOR-legal?
Yes — it's BBCOR certified by the WSU Sports Science Lab. Certified to the BBCOR .50 standard — the barrel is regulated to perform like wood, so it’s legal for high school and college.
New to buying bats? Read our bat sizing guide, certifications explained, or browse all guides.
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