Playing baseball requires a lot of skill and practice, but having the right equipment can make a big difference. A good baseball glove is one of the most important pieces of equipment for any player.
However, with so many different options available, it can be difficult to know which one to choose, especially for beginners. That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help you find the best baseball glove for beginner players.
I’ve included all the essential factors to consider when choosing a glove, such as size, material, and position, as well as providing recommendations for some of the top-rated baseball gloves for beginners currently available.
By the end of this article, you’ll have a better understanding of what to look for in a baseball glove and be able to make an informed decision on which one is the best fit for you.
Why Believing in My Recommendations?
“Currently, I’m working as a baseball coach for a bunch of high-school baseball players. Prior to that, I was a Minor League player as well.
The below recommendations are solely based on my experience and the feedback I got from my students and my son.
I’ve also researched other customers’ feedback but decided to skip their opinion to make this review more personalized. “
Best Baseball Gloves for Beginners – At a Glance
| Positions | Baseball Gloves |
| Hitters | Franklin Sports MLB Teeball Flex Series Batting Gloves |
| Pitchers | Rawlings 2021 Players Series T-Ball & Youth Baseball Glove |
| Outfielders | Rawlings Sure Catch Outfielder Baseball Glove |
| Infielders | Rawlings R9 Youth PRO Taper Baseball Infield Glove |
| Catchers | WILSON 2021 A360 Youth Catcher Glove |
Best Baseball Glove For Beginner Hitters
Before trying Franklin Sports gloves for kids, even I was a bit skeptical about the company.
But, later, I discovered some of the renowned MLB players like Justin Turner, Paul Goldschmidt, Gary Sanchez, and Ronald Acuna Jr. use other Franklin’s series.
So, indeed there are some reasons they trust their products.
Franklin Sports MLB Teeball Flex Series Batting Gloves
Highlighted Features
- Size: Youth (5.25-6.5 inches), Adults (6.75-8.25 inches)
- Material: Faux Leather
- Seamless Palm: Yes
- Breathability: Above Average
- Suitable Weather: Warm
Franklin Flex series is their most-selling youth baseball glove with 4.7 ratings. More than 11,000 baseball parents trusted this glove for the batting practice of their kids. And after a bit of research, I found the reasons why.
As mentioned earlier, comfort is the utmost priority for baseball beginners, especially kids between 6-10 years. I found this Flex pair very satisfying in this context.
There’s a flexible mesh handback, which makes it a little more comfortable for your kids than typical hard batting gloves. Another good aspect is the glove fabric is breathable. So, their hands tend to sweat less while playing their best shots.
After comfort, I also liked this glove set for good gripping. It actually has textures on the leather of the palm area. Because of that, your kids flexibly swing.
I keep the durability measures at last as my son loses his interest in the old glove after a season. However, the synthetic leather crafted quality seems to be up to the mark to me.
Considering all facts, it’s the best baseball glove for kids who want to reshape their batting skills.
Reasons to Choose Franklin Flex:
- Flexible mesh design for required hand comfort
- Because of faux leather, it becomes easy to clean
- Unisex designs are suitable for both boys and girls
- Textured leather allows better gripping
- Durable leather lasts 10 to 12 months easily
Consider Before Purchasing
I found some parents complaining about misfitting their glove size though I didn’t find anything wrong. So, make sure to discuss the available sizes with the seller before ordering.
Best Baseball Glove For Beginner Pitchers
I’m more of a sports guy than a businessman. But one thing I do understand. Since Rawlings was acquired by MLB (in 2018), the brand has been more reliable than any other market options.
It’s also considered the most chosen baseball glove brand by Major League players. Anyway, let’s dig into what I’ve found in their best baseball glove for beginner pitchers.
Rawlings 2021 Players Series T-Ball & Youth Baseball Glove
Highlighted Features
- Hand: Right/Left
- Size: 9 inches (3-5 years) to 11.5 inches (7-9 years)
- Material: Leather
- Lining: Vinyl
- Web: Basket
Whether you’re looking for t-ball pitching gloves or a youth series, this Rawlings pair is gonna be a worthy investment. Basically, it’s the 2021 model of their Players series.
The model is similar to their Players Preferred series. However, it’s mainly made for beginners and lower age groups.
Keeping the learners’ psychology in mind, Rawlings gave a practical finish to this pitcher glove. Its soft, pliable shell is the first thing you’re gonna notice after getting it on your hands for the first time. Because of the finish, your kids will find it easy to close and control the ball.
Another good add-on is the Vinyl lining, which is a topic of argument between many coaches. Some think having vinyl isn’t good for kids as they just started learning the game.
However, I believe making them habituated from the beginning is a wise decision. They will become comfortable with the top-liners, which is common in higher-level baseball gloves too. Besides, the vinyl lining is lightweight compared to Wilson’s pitcher gloves.
I’m not a big fan of Basket web as the traditional design makes it a bit tough to move fingers quickly. But since it’s a pitcher glove and made for amateurs, I overlooked this spec.
The size chart has 4 segments. Firstly, for 3-5 years, they are offering the 9-inch glove. For 5-7, they got 10 inches, and for 6-8, 10.5 inches. Lastly, the youth size is 11.5 inches.
Reasons to Choose Rawlings Players
- 7 lucrative color options to choose from for both boys and girls
- Softshell to make controlling easier
- Basket web to help kids adapt baseball fundamentals
- High-end leather finish at a very affordable price
- Available in various age-friendly sizes
Consider Before Purchasing
Don’t expect any ball with the gloves. Also, make sure to get one size smaller than your kid’s hand size. It’s a common issue I see in others’ cases.
Best Baseball Glove For Beginner Outfielders
Outfielders often deal with fly balls and long balls. Their gloves play a vital role in shaping their performance.
Unlike infielders, outfielders require tighter stitched pockets. Balance support and controlling speed are also serious factors when choosing outfielder gloves for beginners.
Rawlings Sure Catch outfielder glove is the best baseball glove for 8 yr old beginners keeping this thing in mind. Let me clarify how.
Rawlings Sure Catch Outfielder Baseball Glove
Highlighted Features
- Hand: Right/Left
- Size: 9.5 inches (4-5 years) to 11.5 inches (8-10 years)
- Material: Leather
- Break-in: 90%
- Web: Basket
Rawlings designed this Sure Catch series specifically for starters. The first thing that’s mandatory for outfielders is to have a comfortable and functional web. And to me, it’s always the Basket web for outfield gloves. You can get the feature for your kids with this youth glove.
Whether for practice or a 9-inning baseball match, wearing gloves for too long is tough for little challengers. In this regard, the Sure Catch outfielder glove is highly suggested. While most of the outfielder’s gloves weigh around .9 pounds, this one is only .7 pounds.
Except for its lightweight nature, I also liked the all-leather shell design. Besides, there are paddings in the finger linings, which make finger movement comfortable. Also, there’s no chance of finger fatigue.
I didn’t feel any quality compromises as well. It feels pretty durable (well, you’re paying more than average outfield gloves.)
As a baseball coach, I should admit kids related more to the design and color than the actual value. And the good part is Rawlings gave their best effort to make this glove more attractive to your little baseball fan.
The series is available in 9 charismatic color patterns that’ll give any beginners a professional vibe.
Overall, under the $100 price class, this pair provides great value.
Reasons to Choose Rawlings Players
- Patented design for easy closing and opening
- 90% of break-in is done in the factory
- Lightweight craftsmanship makes it beginners friendly.
- Padded finger linings give the utmost comfort to young players
- Available in various sizes and colors
Consider Before Purchasing
Though Rawlings claims to serve this 90% broken, many clients complained they didn’t get in the condition. So, prepare your mindset to break in the glove at home.
Best Baseball Glove For Beginner Infielders
Infielders require maximum flexibility among fielders. Their position is in the closest after catchers. So, quick interaction is always a power to their performance. Considering all these aspects, the Rawlings R9 Youth Pro Taper series is an excellent glove for infielders.
Rawlings R9 Youth PRO Taper Baseball Infield Glove
Highlighted Features
- Hand: Right/Left
- Size: 9.5 inches (4-5 years) to 11.5 inches (8-10 years)
- Material: Leather
- Break-in: 80%
- Web: Basket
What can be better than an infield glove recommended by most high-school coaches? Well, that’s where this Rawlings R9 Pro Taper comes in.
The first reason many coaches suggest this glove is its soft leather quality. Because of that, you can use the glove right away after unboxing.
Rawlings officials told me that it’s 80% broken. But I felt the break-in condition was much better than the Sure Catch series I mentioned above.
When it comes to design, R9 has the most professional feel-like patterns. Maybe that’s why even many MLB stars love the Adult size of this series.
Also, the glove is a combination of both comfort and safety. There are padded finger-back linings that give kids the required softness while playing rush.
It also has a padded thumb loop and palm pad. As a result, players feel less impact, meaning no chance of finger fatigue.
Rawlings R9 youth version is suitable for 6-12 year baseball learners. Also, these are made to ensure contour fittings.
If you’re looking for the best infielder gloves under the $200 budget, it’s a good deal for a single season.
Reasons to Choose Rawlings Players
- Padded finger loops provide good comfort
- Specially designed to reduce catch impact
- Soft leather requires less time to break in
- Contour design ensures required fitting for even smaller hands
- Offered 6 different web designs
Consider Before Purchasing
The only reason to ignore this glove is its single-color offering. Rawling R9 is only offered in a single color. However, you can always choose the web style from 6 different options.
Best Baseball Glove For Beginner Catchers
Catcher’s mitt for kids shouldn’t be more than 31.5 inches. Anything above won’t fit in. The online market of catcher mitts is quite limited. You would find barely a few mitts that match the kid’s size. Therefore, in most cases, little players struggle with oversized mitts.
Even brands with a massive number of glove series, like Franklin Sports, etc., don’t work in this segment. However, I had experience trying 2 gloves from different brands – Wilson and All-star.
In my experience, the Wilson A360 was better. Below I’ve shared my findings regarding the glove.
WILSON 2021 A360 Youth Catcher Glove
Highlighted Features
- Hand: Left/Right
- Size: 31.5 inches
- Web: Half moon
- Material: Synthetic Leather
While many supreme brands skipped the kid catcher market, Wilson has come up with one of their finest baseball gloves, the A360 series.
There’s no guilt to appreciate the mitt like a paid promotion because it truly has all the specifications of their professional MLB series glove.
For example, Wilson made this mitt following CarbonLite Shell technology. This feature enhances the durability of the mitt while decreasing its weight.
Wilson gloves are always high in price. So, after seeing their line under $100, I was sure not to get the original leather and confirmed it after getting it home.
The glove is made following the velcro design. Basically, it has lots of knots, which allows players to adjust any part of the mitt, even during the game.
It has a half-moon stock web, which is standard in typical catcher’s mitts. Unfortunately, there’s no other web design offered by the company.
Lastly, Wilson made it with a black and gray leather combination to give it a bolder look. Your kids will surely love this color.
Reasons to Choose Rawlings Players
- Highly suggested for its price efficiency
- CarbonLite Shell technology to make it lightweight
- Comes in a professional-looking design
- Multiple knot design allows easy adjustments
- Impressive durability compared to other synthetic leather mitts
Consider Before Purchasing
If you’re looking for a pure leather-made mitt, this isn’t the best deal. However, the durability is impressive. Please note that it requires enough time to break in completely. But it won’t be a bad time to break in the mitt while watching the Money Heist new season 😉.
How Do I Choose a Baseball Glove?
You can’t live with a single glove or series. The preference for your gloves will change over time as your experience evolves. However, there are a few key factors to consider when choosing a baseball glove:
Position
Different positions require different types of gloves. For example, infielders typically use gloves with smaller pockets and shorter fingers, while outfielders typically use gloves with larger pockets and longer fingers.
On the contrary, catchers’ mitts are totally different in shape and larger in design (30-35 inches.)
After choosing your fielding position, shortlist the best glove series. Then follow the next features given below.
Size and Fit
Make sure the glove fits comfortably on your hand and is the appropriate size for your position. You should be able to close the glove with your fingers inside the pocket comfortably.
Also, look for padded finger loops and palms in your gloves. They give you the utmost comfort. Besides, your fingers get protection from fatigue and excessive impact.
You can check out my detailed guide on how to measure hand for baseball gloves in this post to learn more about this context.
Material
Gloves come in different materials, such as leather and synthetic materials, and also vary in quality.
Leather gloves are generally considered to be of higher quality, but they can be more expensive and take longer to break in.
On the flip side, synthetic gloves are often more affordable and require less break-in time. Choose according to your budget and preference.
Brand
The market is flooded with lots of brands. Some renowned brands, such as Wilson and Nokona, offer their gloves at very high prices. Obviously, their quality is satisfying. But I won’t suggest investing in those brands initially if you’re not in a league.
Instead, get your gloves from mid-budget brands such as Franklin Sports and Rawlings (though Rawlings also has some premium series.)
Personal Preference
Ultimately, personal preference is a key factor when choosing a baseball glove. You should try on several different gloves and test out their feel, weight, and overall performance before settling on a particular series of gloves.
It’s always a good idea to try on gloves and see how they feel, so you can find one that feels comfortable and fits well.
Is Rawlings or Wilson better?
Rawlings and Wilson are both well-known and respected brands in the world of baseball gloves. Both companies have a long history of producing high-quality gloves for players of all levels.
Rawlings is known for producing well-constructed and durable gloves, and many professional players use them.
Their gloves are typically made from top-quality leather and are designed for optimal performance. They also have mid-budget glove series that are made of synthetic leather.
Wilson is also an equally reputable brand known for producing durable and premium gloves. They have a wide range of gloves for different positions and different levels of play, from entry-level to professional grade.
Ultimately, the choice between Rawlings and Wilson will come down to personal preference and what feels comfortable for you. So, it’s recommended to try on gloves from both brands and see which one you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest baseball glove to break in?
The easiest baseball glove to break in depends on the type of leather and the specific glove design. Generally, gloves made from softer leathers, such as steerhide or cowhide, are easier to break in than those made from more rigid leathers like top grain leather or synthetic materials.
Additionally, gloves with a pre-oiled or “game ready” design are easier to break in as they have already been treated to make them more pliable.
Considering all the facts, the Rawlings Player Preferred Glove series of gloves are pretty easy to break in.
How can I break in gloves faster?
Using mink oils or glove conditioners the leather soften and speed up the break-in process. You can get a thorough guideline on how to break in your gloves faster here in this article.
What age is an 11.5 baseball glove?
11.5-inch baseball gloves are suitable for players aged 9-12 years. However, depending on the glove’s positional category, 7-9 years old players may use 11 to 11.5 inches of gloves.
Which baseball glove brand is best?
There’s no self-alone brand that’s the best of all features. Moreover, it’s like personal preference. But you can consider Rawlings, Franklin Sports, Wilson, Marucci, and Nokona, some of the best baseball glove brands. They are preferred by many MLB players.
What glove do most MLB players use?
Without any doubt, most MLB players use Rawlings’ gloves. Not only the professionals but even in the beginners market, Rawlings is the most selling baseball glove online.
Wrapping Up
In conclusion, before choosing the best baseball gloves for beginners, you need to consider a few factors such as playing positions, material, size, protective features, etc. It also depends on the manufacturer, as not all of them provide the best quality.
Hopefully, you’ve found the solution you were looking for. Let me know in the comment section which one it is and after purchase experience. Till then, have a blast on the ground with your kids.
Check out other articles related to baseball gloves:
5 Best Baseball Gloves Brands and Their Best Series
How To Break In A Baseball Glove In 5 Minutes?
5 Best Catchers Mitt After Use Review By a Real Coach
The Best Pitching Gloves for Control and Comfort: Coach’s Choice
Hello everyone. My name is Jason Butler, and I live in California, America. I was a professional AAA Minor League Baseball player. I lost my chance of playing MLB for injury issues, but I did not lose my love for baseball. I attended the coaching training program and am now working as a coach in a small school in San Diego.
I always love to share my experience and knowledge if that can help you. Play baseball, and stay fit.