2027 DeMarini Velvet Thunder D38 Wood Bat Review
DeMarini's D38 wood composite — a Pro Maple barrel reinforced by an internal composite rod, mid-loaded with a mammoth barrel profile, and backed by a 365-day warranty rare in wood. First-pass rating.
The Score
How we score ↗The grade, density and grain of the billet — slope-of-grain, ink-dot certification, and whether it’s a true pro-cut. The headline for a wood bat. A primary driver of the overall score.
Barrel size and the turn-model profile (110/243/271/I13 and the like) — how much hitting surface and forgiveness the shape gives you.
How the wood feels and sounds at contact — the flex/stiffness of the handle, and the crack off a quality billet.
How well the wood holds up — density and grain quality (and, for composite wood, engineered toughness). Far more important on a wood bat than on alloy.
How hard the ball comes off for a wood bat — real, but a lighter factor here since wood isn’t about chasing max exit velocity.
Quality per dollar versus comparable pro-grade or composite wood. Shown for context; NOT factored into the overall score.
Why this score: First-pass rating: judged on the wood scorecard — engineered consistency and durability run high for wood, while wood quality reflects a composite-reinforced maple rather than a pro-grade solid billet. We'll confirm with testing.
Our Review
The Velvet Thunder D38 is DeMarini's wood composite play: a Pro Maple exterior over a one-piece flared internal composite rod, cut to a wide D38 profile that keeps its width nearly to the cupped end. You get the crack and feel of maple with a composite skeleton that shrugs off the inside-pitch breakage that kills solid billets — which is why it can carry a 365-day warranty. The midload puts usable mass behind contact and the mammoth barrel is forgiving by wood standards. It's eligible for Perfect Game events and most wood-bat tournaments, though solid-wood-only leagues won't allow it. For a hitter who wants wood training or wood-league play without feeding broken billets to the fire pit, it's a practical choice; a Marucci or Victus pro cut remains the truer wood experience. First-pass rating from the build and class.
Also worth a look: Axe Pro Composite Maple.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Maple exterior with composite reinforcement — real wood feel that survives mishits
- Wide D38 profile holds its width to the end for a huge sweet spot
- 365-day warranty is almost unheard of on a wood bat
Cons
- Not a true solid billet — some purists and leagues care
- $299.95 is deep into pro-grade solid maple territory
Full Specifications
| Brand | DeMarini |
|---|---|
| Model | Velvet Thunder D38 |
| Model Year | 2027 |
| Certification | Wood |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Construction | Maple wood composite (Pro Maple barrel over a flared internal composite rod) |
| Model # | WBD2725010 |
| Drop | -3 |
| Barrel | 2 5/8" |
| Swing Weight | Mid-loaded |
| MSRP | $299 |
Where to Buy
2027 DeMarini Velvet Thunder D38 Wood Bat — FAQ
Is the 2027 DeMarini Velvet Thunder D38 a good Wood bat?
We rate it 7.8/10 (Grade B). DeMarini's D38 wood composite — a Pro Maple barrel reinforced by an internal composite rod, mid-loaded with a mammoth barrel profile, and backed by a 365-day warranty rare in wood. First-pass rating.
What drops does the Velvet Thunder D38 come in?
The 2027 Velvet Thunder D38 Wood comes in -3.
How much does the 2027 Velvet Thunder D38 cost?
MSRP is $299. We list the lowest price across CheapBats and Amazon on this page.
New to buying bats? Read our bat sizing guide, certifications explained, or browse all guides.
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Sources: DeMarini — 2027 Velvet Thunder D38 (WBD2725) · Better Baseball — DeMarini D38 Velvet Thunder wood composite (WBD2725010)