Not all wood bats are ash.
Wood bats cost a fortune now and when I played we broke so many that bat bag got light by the end of the season.
The old ash has been picked over, Maple bats are fairly common.
If you were into woodworking you’d know there are blanks available for more than just ash and one thing they have in common - None are cheap.
Kids who aren’t talented enough to pick the splinters out of their butt are far more common than when I was a kid.
“Wood bats cost a fortune now”
$29.95 from amazon.com including free shipping:
In constant-dollar terms, ash baseball bats are cheaper than when I was a kid.
“The MLB180 bat, for instance, is made of professional-grade ash, pound for pound the strongest timber available. Ash offers a flexibility that isn’t found in other timbers, including maple, resulting in a barrel that tends to flex rather than break. This gives you a larger, more forgiving sweet spot in terms of breakage. In addition, ash is lighter than maple, so players can choose from among several large-barrel sizes. It all adds up to a terrific choice for casual players who love the look and feel of a genuine wood bat, or professionals who value a high-quality bat performance.”