It was the first year they made the ghost. I doubt it's got more pop than the newest and greatest ghost advanced. When Easton first made the bat they only got ASA and ISF stamps on it. The next year Easton got utrip and USA stamps and the 2019 ghost was legal everywhere.

I think it has more to do with Utrip wanting the fee it gets to test and certify bats it allows in competition. Easton probably didn't want to pay for all the testing and certifications on a new unproven product. Remember all this happened before Rawlings bought the company.

When that bat became such a hit it was certified and sanctioned everywhere. Don't waste your money on a ghost with out a warranty.