Major League Baseball’s rule 3.02 is simple: “The bat shall be a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.”

But within those parameters the variations are many — especially for hitters particular about their swing and their equipment.

We asked Cubs and White Sox players about their bat choices and bat stories.

READ: Cubs and White Sox players on their mitts »

CUBS

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Kris Bryant waits to take batting practice during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 19, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Kris Bryant waits to take batting practice during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 19, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: “I’m the worst because I choose so many. Whatever has the most hits, that’s what I go with. I use Chandler a lot, I use Victus bats, too. To me, it’s all about the sound of it coming off the bat and how it feels. That’s the one I’m going with.”

Wood: “Maple. It’s harder. A lot of guys are into birch, but you have to break that in. It’s like a glove.”

Preferred dimensions:: 34-31 ½. “I’m trying a heavier bat this year, a 32-ounce because the more weight you have behind the ball, the further it travels.”

How many bats used in a season: “If there are no hits in it, the bat is retired. I’d say three dozen.”

Favorite bat story: “In high school I had a metal bat. It was a team bat everyone used. It was a DeMarini Voodoo. I went up there and hit a home run with it. And it sounded like a cannon ball went off. I get back to pick up the bat and it was cracked. I still have that bat at home. It’s pretty impressive cracking a metal bat.”

Anthony Rizzo

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Anthony Rizzo poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Anthony Rizzo poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Marucci, 10 seasons

Wood: Maple, occasionally ash. “I like the density (of maple).”

Preferred dimensions (length and ounces): 34½-32.

How many bats used in a season: “Probably 30.”

Favorite bat story: “I have better stories than the time I used Matt Szczur’s bat (in the 2016 playoff to compensate for lack of strength and bat speed). But those are off the record.”

Albert Almora Jr.

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Albert Almora Jr. poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Albert Almora Jr. poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Marucci and Victus

Wood: Maple. “I never got to using ash bats, and they don’t last as long.”

Preferred dimensions: 34-31½.

How many bats used in a season: “I order a lot more than I use. I probably use 24 bats.”

Favorite bat story: “This spring I got off to a slow start. I was hitting balls hard that were caught. And (special assistant) John Baker was walking around with the bats he used and said, ‘You want one? It has a lot of hits in it.’

“I said, ‘sure.’ I grabbed it, but it was heavier than any bat I used. But I was to the point where I figured let’s just have fun with it. Actually my first hit with the bat was a home run at Sloan Park, and I gave him a hug.”

Javier Baez

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Javier Baez poses for a portrait during photo day at spring training on Feb. 29, 2016. Javier Baez poses for a portrait during photo day at spring training on Feb. 29, 2016. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: SSK

Wood: Birch and maple

Preferred dimensions: 33½-33½.

How many bats used in a season: “It depends on how many I break. I usually use the same one until it gets old.”

Willson Contreras

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Willson Contreras poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Willson Contreras poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: “Victus, but once in a while I use Homewood. They make pretty good bats.”

Wood: Maple. “I have a birch bat that is pretty good. In cold weather I like birch or ash. In the summer, I like maple.”

Preferred dimensions: 34-33

How many bats used in a season: “I use a lot of bats. I’m pretty superstitious. If I don’t get a hit in two games with a Homewood, I go back to Victus, and back and forth.”

Favorite bat story: “The bat I used in my first game in the bigs with a home run (in 2016), I was using it for 1½ months in Triple-A (Iowa). I have the bat framed in my house.”

Ian Happ

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Ian Happ poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Ian Happ poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Louisville Slugger. “They’ve been good to me.”

Wood: “Maple.“I tried birch, but I’m more of a maple fan.”

Preferred dimensions: 34-32.

How many bats used in a season: “Probably 30 to 40.”

Favorite bat story: “In the Cape Cod League, I got a bat from a company up there. There was a fish on the logo, and I brought it out for the game and hit a home run with it. That was pretty cool. I retired the bat that day. I still have the bat.”

Jason Heyward

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Jason Heyward poses for a portrait on Cubs media day during spring training on Feb. 20, 2018. Jason Heyward poses for a portrait on Cubs media day during spring training on Feb. 20, 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: “I don’t have one I’m locked into.”

Wood: Maple. “I like the finish, feel and density.”

Preferred dimensions (length and ounces): 34-31½ or 34-32.

Favorite bat story: “In the minor leagues, Freddie Freeman and I were swinging the same bat, same model, and I was batting third and he was batting fourth. In the minor leagues, especially at that time, it’s hard to get bats. So we’re low on bats.

“So there would be times I would be using his bat, and he would be using my bat. So you’d see me get a hit, and he would walk to the plate and use the same bat.”

Tommy La Stella

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Tommy La Stella poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Tommy La Stella poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Marucci and Chandler

Wood: Maple. “I like the feel and finish.”

Preferred dimensions: 34-32

How many bats used in a season: “Maybe one dozen. I usually have one for batting practice and one for the game. Fewer at-bats, fewer broken bats.”

Addison Russell

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Addison Russell poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Addison Russell poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Zinger. “I’ve been using them since my minor-league days.”

Wood: Maple. “It has a hard, strong feel.”

Dimensions: 34-32

How many bats used in a season: 60 to 80

Kyle Schwarber

Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune Kyle Schwarber poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. Kyle Schwarber poses for a portrait during spring training at Sloan Park on Tuesday Feb. 20, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Brand: Dinger

Wood: “I’ve always used maple.”

Dimensions: 34-31½

How many bats used in a season: “It’s determined by how many hits they have in them.”