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Available both stock/untouched and Broken In Completely and Evenly using our Professional ProMAX Break-In Service - choose your preference while adding to cart!
There's a moment in every young hitter's life when the coach stops feeding the pitching machine and a kid on the mound starts throwing live. Timing suddenly matters, bat speed suddenly matters, and the bat that got them through coach pitch suddenly feels like a fence post. The 2027 Rawlings Icon -12 USA is built for that moment! It is the lightest bat in the Icon USA lineup, a full two ounces under the -10 at the same length, and it puts Rawlings' In/Tense Carbon Composite barrel in the hands of 6, 7, 8, and 9 year olds who are learning to hit a moving fastball for the first time. The seamless carbon layup gives them a big, forgiving 2-5/8 inch sweet spot, and the -12 drop gives them a bat they can get out in front without muscling it. Wrapped in a red and blue colorway, it looks like the real thing because it is the real thing, just sized for a kid who is still growing into the game.
The smartest feature on this bat is the one a young hitter will never notice: how little it hurts. The Icon -12 USA is a two-piece composite with Rawlings' Zero Loss Technology at the connection, a reinforced TPU collar that keeps the joint stable and sends swing energy into the ball while the two-piece design keeps the vibration from reaching small hands. Anyone who has watched an 8 year old take one off the handle on a cold morning knows what happens next: the hands get slower, the swing gets shorter, and the hitter starts stepping in the bucket. A bat that doesn't sting keeps a young hitter swinging with confidence, and confidence is the whole ballgame at this age. Rawlings finished it with a balanced swing profile that makes the barrel easy to control through the zone and a cushioned, high-tack RevGrip that stays put in a sweaty batting glove.
The -12 is usually the first serious bat a family buys, and it is the one where good advice saves the most money. That's what LongballBats.com has been doing since 2016 as the Bat Performance Experts, with a staff that brings more than 100 years of combined baseball and softball experience to every conversation. We will tell you whether your 8 year old should be in a 28 or a 29, whether they are ready for a -12 composite or would be better off in a lighter alloy for one more year, and how to size the bat so it lasts more than one season. Tell us your player's age, height, weight, and what division they are playing in, and we'll get it right the first time!
- Brand: Rawlings
- Sport: Baseball
- 2-5/8 inch barrel diameter, the maximum allowed under USA Baseball rules
- Certification: USA Baseball, American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC), Babe Ruth Baseball / Cal Ripken Baseball, Dixie Youth Baseball, Little League Baseball, Pony Baseball and all other leagues that require the USABat stamp
- Drop: -12 drop weight, the lightest drop in the Icon USA lineup, for maximum bat speed and control in developing hitters
- Two-piece composite construction for a smooth, composed feel through contact
- In/Tense Carbon Composite barrel, seamless carbon construction engineered for a large, forgiving sweet spot within the USA Bat Standard
- Balanced swing profile that helps young hitters stay on time against live pitching
- Zero Loss Technology reinforced TPU connection joint that stabilizes the handle-to-barrel interface and cuts sting on mishits
- Premium RevGrip with high tack and cushion for comfort and control
- Stunning red colorway with blue accents
- Series: Icon
- Warranty: 1 Year
- Year Released: 2026
- Adding our ProMAX Break-In Service to your order may cause decertification, check with the governing body of your league for clarification
Manufacturing tolerances, performance considerations, and grip weight may cause variations from the listed weight/Mass Index.
We proudly carry the rest of the 2027 Rawlings Icon release:
- BBCOR: One Piece, Two Piece
- USSSA: -5 Drop, -8 Drop, -10 Drop
- USA Baseball: -5 Drop, -8 Drop, -10 Drop, -12 Drop
- Junior Big Barrel: -11 Drop
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
QUESTION: Should I order this bat stock/untouched or Professionally Broken In?
ANSWER: Brand new baseball and softball bats need to be broken in before they perform to their full potential. Our ProMAX Break-In Service adds 20-40ft of extra distance to your solid hits, improves the durability and longevity of the bat and increases the consistency of your results on solid hits, as well. If you plan to use the bat in an official game or event, please verify the legality of our process with your league or sanctioning body before use. We (LongballBats.com) do not encourage the use of a professionally broken in bat in any game or event where it is against the rules. Click here for details about our process and if you're in a hurry, opt for our "Front of Line" service!
QUESTION: What age is the Icon -12 USA built for?
ANSWER: Most hitters swinging a -12 are between 7 and 9, typically in their first or second year of kid pitch. A 28 inch fits most 7 and 8 year olds, and a 29 or 30 inch fits most 9 year olds or taller 8 year olds. The -12 is also a smart choice for a smaller or lighter 10 year old who needs a longer bat for plate coverage but cannot yet control the weight of a 30 inch -10. The goal at this age is bat speed and a clean swing path, and a -12 makes both easier.
QUESTION: Is the Icon -12 USA legal for coach pitch, machine pitch, and Little League Minors?
ANSWER: Yes. The RUS7I12 carries the USA Baseball certification, which is the stamp required in Little League Minors and Majors, Cal Ripken, Babe Ruth, PONY, Dixie Youth, and most other rec leagues. That includes coach pitch and machine pitch divisions in leagues that use the USA standard. A few tee ball programs require a specific tee ball stamp, so if your player is still in tee ball, check with your league first. As always, confirm your local league's bat rules before game day.
QUESTION: Will my player outgrow a -12 quickly, and is it still worth it?
ANSWER: A -12 is a one to two season bat for most kids, and that is fine. Because the Icon -12 is available up to 31 inches, you can buy a length that fits now and still works next spring as they grow into it. When they are ready for more weight, the Icon USA comes in a -10, -8, and -5 (linked above) that feel the same in the hands, so the move up is seamless. And a well cared for Icon holds its value: it will be a hand-me-down for a younger sibling or a strong resale bat when your player moves on. What is NOT worth it? A bat that is too heavy today. That costs a season of development, and nobody gets that season back!
