MLB Sporting Co. Class Action Says Baseball Bats Heavier Than Advertised

According to a recent class action lawsuit, a Major League Baseball company sells children’s baseball bats which are heavier than they are advertised as.

Plaintiff Richard Sotelo filed the class action lawsuit against Major League Baseball owned Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc., alleging that the company’s children baseball bats are two to three ounces heavier than the packages claim.

This change in weight can allegedly make the bats unusable and unstable which affects performance.

“If, unbeknownst to the purchaser, a bat is not the weight at which it is represented, it can negatively affect performance. It can even cause injury to the user and other players,” the Major League Baseball bat class action lawsuit reports.

Sotelo says he purchased a Major League Baseball bat in November 2017 for his eight-year-old son. He believed that a one pound weight on the bat would allow his son to better control his swing.

However, the 2018 Rawlings Youth 5150 USA model baseball bat allegedly failed to improve his son’s swing which lead Sotelo to check the weight of the bat.

Upon weighing the Major League Baseball bat, Sotelo says he discovered that the bat weighed 18.6 ounces. This was a full 2.6 ounces heavier than the advertised pound.

“Because the 5150 bat is significantly heavier than as labeled, plaintiff’s son cannot use, and is not using, the bat for training or play,” the Rawlings baseball bat class action claims.

Sotelo argues that his experience is not unique. Reviews on Amazon reportedly show that many consumers have experienced the same issue with their Major League Baseball bat products weighing two to three ounces above the advertised weight.

The widespread issue with Major League Baseball bat products can allegedly cause detrimental effects on the performance of children, which can in turn cause disappointment and emotional damage.

“The complaint alleges that Rawlings took advantage of the hopes and dreams of children by falsely advertising and selling a bat that was much heavier than promised,” said plaintiff counsel in an email statement to Law360. “There is so much pressure on children these days to perform in sports, and Rawlings knows and profits from this pressure. This is fundamentally wrong.”

Sotelo seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased any Rawlings baseball bat which was a different weight than advertised during the applicable limitations period. He also seeks to represent a similar group of consumers in California who are protected under additional state laws.

The Major League Baseball Bat class action lawsuit seeks restitution, monetary damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Plaintiff and the proposed Class are represented by David R. Shoop and Thomas S. Alch of Shoop PC; Janine Pollack and Adam Gonnelli of The Sultzer Law Group PC; Lee S. Shalov and Jason S. Giaimo of McLaughlin & Stern LLP; and C. Mario Jaramillo of Access Lawyers Group.

The Rawlings Major League Baseball Bat Class Action Lawsuit is Sotelo v. Rawlings Sporting Goods Co., Case No. 2:18­-cv-09166, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

UPDATE: On Feb. 15, 2019, Rawlings Sporting Goods asked a federal court to dismiss a class action lawsuit that alleges the company’s youth baseball bats weigh more than advertised.

UPDATE 2: On Jan. 17, 2020, a California federal judge was asked to certify a Class of California baseball bat buyers who say were financially injured by Rawlings Sporting Goods’ mislabeling of its baseball bats.