A bat tube for use with a harvester pick-up reel. The bat tube is configured to resist torsional loads, without having to use fasteners that engage holes in the bat tube. Preferably, the external surface of the bat tube provides at least one key or keyway that engages a corresponding keyway or key in the band or strap portion of the tines. As such, once a tine is engaged with the bat tube, the tine is generally prevented from rotating about the bat tube. Additionally, by not using fasteners to engage holes in the bat tube, spacing between the tines can be varied. The bat tube allows for tine fastening and torsional resistance without drilling or punching holes, which allows for easily variable tine spacings. It also allows for improved crop gathering and crop entry characteristics over a typical round profile.
