The 10 Best Youth Baseball Gloves, Tested And Researched

Jonathan Wilson By, Jonathan Wilson
Updated
Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove
Image credit: Amazon.com

The Rundown

1. Best Overall: Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove

"The Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove has a 12 inch standard adult size, which is perfect for recreational baseball and slowpitch softball. The full grain leather ensures enhanced durability, while the glove’s patented design provides a more comfortable fit and more diversity in the glove’s performance." Read Review

2. Best Bang For The Buck: Mizuno Prospect PowerClose Youth Baseball Glove Series

"The Mizuno Prospect Series GPP1100Y3MEC Baseball Gloves are designed for fastpitch softball. These gloves are made of premium materials, including a full-grain cowhide leather palm lining, with a light and breathable air mesh back that provides flexibility and great fit. The polyurethane palm liner is butter soft and durable." Read Review

3. Best Softy: Franklin Sports Baseball Glove

"Franklin Sports unisex adult 12.5-Inch Franklin Sports Baseball Glove. The gloves are designed with a premium cowhide palm that is soft and supple, while the PVC hybrid shell provides durability so you can play season after season. The adjustable wrist strap provides a custom and versatile fit for all players." Read Review

4. Top Choice: Rawlings R9 Baseball Glove Series

"Rawlings has created the world's most innovative and advanced baseball gloves with a soft, durable & All-Leather shell. The R9 Glove is designed with extra padding on the fingerbacks and a youth pro taper to fit players of any position and skill level." Read Review

When playing youth baseball, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to showcase your talent. It would help if you had the right equipment, so your game doesn’t suffer. A bad glove could lead to endless frustration and an inability to catch correctly.

A crummy bat could lead to equally frustrating results if you don’t know how to swing correctly. The right tools can make all the difference, as they will help you be a more successful player. That being said, not every youth baseball player will have access to the same sets of equipment from their local club or the manufacturer itself. Our team has put together this article with the top recommendations for buying the best youth baseball gloves on the market today.

Following extensive study and analysis, we've come up with the Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove, which we hope will meet your demands. However, it is not the only thing on our list. We also show a complete buyer's guide, and several options are available to help you find the most suitable one.

Compare

TOP Choice #1 Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.7
Rawlings

12 INCH ADULT GLOVE | Perfect for recreational baseball and slowpitch softball

FULL GRAIN LEATHER | Quality material ensures enhanced durability

ZERO SHOCK PALM PADDING | Provides increased impact protection while catching

BASKET WEB | Versatile web that can be used at any position on the field

ADJUSTABLE WRIST STRAP | Allows for a customizable fit for maximum comfort

GAME READY FEEL | With quick, easy 80% factory - 20% player break-in process

TOP Choice #2 Mizuno Prospect PowerClose Youth Baseball Glove Series
Our Score:
9.5
Mizuno

Air mesh back: increases flexibility & breathability

Butter soft palm liner: PU palm lining for increased durability, feel, and comfort

Right Hand Throw= worn on left hand, left hand Throw= worn on right hand

Mzo lining: disperses perspiration away from the skin

Right Hand Throw = Left Hand Glove, Left Hand Throw = Right Hand Glove

Full grain pigskin leather: for great durability

TOP Choice #3 Franklin Sports Baseball Glove
Our Score:
9.4
Franklin Sports

LEFT HAND THROW: This glove is worn on the right hand for players who throw with their left hand

DURABILITY CONSTRUCTION: These baseball gloves combine a premium cowhide palm with a PVC hybrid shell for premium durability to play season after season

ADJUSTABLE: The adjustable wrist strap provides a custom and versatile fit for all players

READY TO PLAY: This baseball glove is designed to be ready to play out of the box so you can skip the break in and hit the field.

VERSATILE: These gloves are perfect for baseball and softball and are designed to fit comfortably for adults and kids

4 Rawlings R9 Baseball Glove Series
Our Score:
9.2
Rawlings

EXTRA COMFORT: Padded fingerback liners and a youth pro taper fit designed for players of any position and skill level.

NEXT-LEVEL BASEBALL PERFORMANCE: This R9 glove comes with a soft, durable & All-Leather Shell that’s both a premium build and comfortable wear.

80% FACTORY BROKEN IN: This glove is playable right out of the box with minimum break-in required.

SIZED FOR YOU: The players series keeps the players in mind, with a strategic design to be as good-fitting and comfortable as possible.

ALWAYS THE BEST: Rawlings is a front-runner in baseball gear and innovation trusted by professionals everywhere, so buying Rawlings gear is a commitment to being the best.

SHALLOW I-WEBBING: The shallow I-web pocket makes this glove perfect for infielders who need to get the ball in and out of the glove quickly and easily

DURABLE COWHIDE CONSTRUCTION: This mitt is made from genuine black cowhide leather for premium durability and performance season after season

CHROME TREATMENT: Chrome accent stitching and logo patch give this mitt a stylish professional look so you can look and play your best

FAST BREAK-IN: The soft, flexible cowhide makes the breaking in process quick and easy to provide optimal performance right away

SOFT PALM LINING: Designed with a super soft palm lining for maximum comfort while you're out in the field

Left "Hand Orientation" Selection: Left Hand Throw & Glove on Your Right Hand

11" Youth pattern designed for the 11U player available in 12 colors to match player's uniform or glove color used by player's favorite pro player.

Right "Hand Orientation" Selection: Right Hand Throw & Glove on Your Left Hand

Ideal Fit System - Pro-style open back with an easy, on-the-fly, adjustable custom fit. Extended finger gussets for a more secure fit and better leverage. Re-positioned pinkie loop allows for two fingers in the pinkie stall

Game-ready Select Cowhide palm and web leather, durable genuine rawhide lace, and super soft palm lining

7 Rawlings Encore Youth Baseball Glove
Our Score:
8.7
Rawlings

Added palm protection and extended glove base helps prevent sting, making this a safe choice for players looking for an extra layer of defense against hard-hit balls

Adjustable hand opening allows every player to customize the fit of their glove

Designed for infielders and pitchers, this encore 11. 25 inch Youth glove provides the player with the competitive advantage to field any grounder and quickly transfer the ball to their throwing hand for a Throw around the infield

Right Hand Orientation = Right Hand Throw / Left Hand Orientation = Left Hand Throw

65% factory/ 35% player break-in allows for a fast or break-in process, while still holding shape

Right Hand Throw (glove goes on left hand)

Ideal for players FROM age 8 through 14, this glove features Provides more hand protection and shape retention for younger players thanks to the extended web base that allows the fingers to close around the glove

RIGHT HAND THROW (Glove goes on left hand)

65% FACTORY / 35% PLAYER BREAK-IN allows for a faster break-in process, while still holding shape

IDEAL FOR PLAYERS FROM AGE 8 THROUGH 14, Encore gloves provide more hand protection and shape retention for younger players, thanks to the extended web base which creates a deep pocket to help secure the ball when catching and fielding

ADJUSTABLE HAND OPENING allows every player to dial in the fit of their glove

DESIGNED FOR INFIELDERS, this Rawlings Encore 11.5 inch Pro I Web youth glove provides the player with the competitive advantage to field any grounder and quickly transfer the ball to their throwing hand for a throw around the infield

BASEBALL FIELD POSITION - Left hand throw high-performing baseball mitt designed for infield and outfield positions with the Modified Trap Web design and open back wrist closure

SIZE & AGE BALL GLOVES - Youth fit for ages 14 and under lightweight 510g glove measured 11.25" pattern; To find the ideal fit, measure from the heel of the glove up to the top of the index finger while pushing the tape measure up against the palm of the glove

WE STAND BEHIND OUR PRODUCTS - Nokona products are fully guaranteed for 1 year against defective workmanship and material; This guarantee does not cover damage resulting from misuse or normal wear and tear

NOKONA LEATHERS - Nokona's elite performance, ready-for-play, X2 Elite series chocolate gloves; Made with Nokona's proprietary top-grain Stampede Steerhide and Kangaroo leathers for a top-quality glove

HANDCRAFTED WITH PRIDE IN THE USA - Since 1934, Nokona premium baseball gloves have been crafted by skilled American workers, using the world's highest quality & performance leathers to produce the finest gloves

10 SKYLINE LEXIO LX06BK Baseball Glove
Our Score:
7.9
Skyline

What to Look For in a best youth baseball gloves?

Looking for the best youth baseball gloves requires consideration of many criteria. Product learning varies in type, feature, and customer ranking. Overall, it comes with several difficulties in buying. So, we are available to support you occasionally.

It is beneficial for you to have a closer look at the things below to evaluate and then choose which one is suitable:

Size

Bad fitting gloves can distract and make you uncomfortable. It is crucial to find the perfect fit. The size of the glove that you will need depends on where you play. The glove size of outfielders is usually greater than that of infielders.

Position

The needs of every player are different so baseball gloves have a variety of styles. Baseball gloves can have huge differences in design. First baseman need to have more surface for contact with the ball and outfielder must have more. Your position will dictate the size of your glove to best fit your actions on the field.

Padding

It is also important to think about your preferred padding. Based on what position you play, the padding on your glove will vary. The padding in the catcher's glove is more to shield their hands against pitcher's throws. Some positions may need additional padding, like third base and first base. The popularity of additional wrist padding, especially in corner-infield positions, has increased recently.

Backs Of A Glove

The open and closed-back gloves are available to players. On the glove's backside, this portion can be seen above the wrist. If you have an open back, there will be a small space between the wrist and your back. While this is personal preference, there are some backs that work better in certain positions.

Webbing

You can find different kinds of webbing in gloves made for softball and baseball players. For infielders, the most popular type of webbing is looser. This gives you more control to get the ball out quickly and doesn't collect large amounts of dirt. Gloves with open webs will be preferred by infielders to provide visibility while protecting the sun.

Wrist Adjustments

A few gloves feature wrist adjustments. They allow players to tailor the glove to their needs, making it easy to take on and off. Velcro, a buckle and a D ring are all possible.

Material

Many materials can be used in gloves. These include leather, synthetic material, mesh and treated leather. Players prefer leather for its strength and durability. Pre-conditioned oil can be added to treated leather gloves for an easier break-in. Many prefer the lighter mesh-backed glove. The synthetic glove, which is lightest and cost-effective for players younger than adult size, works great.

FAQs

What Should A Baseball Glove Look Like?

You should find a baseball glove that fits comfortably but is not too tight on your hand. So that you don't have any extra hands, the glove must stop about halfway between your thumb and your finger. But if you feel the glove falling off your fingers or it feels too tight, it may be a sign that the glove is not fitting correctly.

What's The Difference Between Right-hand Thrower Vs Left-hand Thrower?

A left-handed person would use the glove on their right-hand. For right-handed people, they will need the glove on their left. The left-hand thrower will be more rare than the right-hand one.

How Do You Break In A Baseball Gloves?

Many baseball gloves come soft and ready to use, however, if you choose a premium leather glove, it will likely need some breaking in.

How Do You Size A Baseball Glove?

It is important to consider the positions you play and personal preferences when choosing the right size baseball glove. Iannarilli stated that size is determined by preference. He also stated that the size of a glove varies depending on its position. For example, infielders will prefer gloves between 11.25 to 11.75 inches. While outfielders may favor gloves up to 12.5 inches.

Which Size Glove Should You Get?

Because of their slower reaction times, infielders tend to wear smaller gloves that are easier to control. Because infielders use smaller gloves, they are able to get the ball out faster and throw out runners. Outfielder gloves tend to be larger and have deeper pockets because they chase down fly balls. A bigger mitt also helps reduce the distance from the ball.

How Do I Get My New Glove In Place?

There are many methods you can use to get your glove in shape. Your glove will only be as good as the time it takes to get used to. The more leather you have, the easier it is to break in.

How Do You Clean A Baseball Glove?

It can be quite delicate to clean a baseball glove if it is done properly. A simple wipe with your hands can be used to remove dirt from the glove. Use soap and water sparingly. Don't wash the glove with soap or use water as this can dry out leather and cause it to turn crusty.
Once you have finished cleaning the gloves you can apply leather conditioner to your hands.

The list of best youth baseball gloves is updated frequently to approach the latest information. Please check our website to get any changes and additions usually.

Would you like to be given practical support about best youth baseball gloves of 2024? Our customer service department is always here to assist you. Please contact us as soon as possible whenever you need.


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About Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson

Jonathan Wilson is a former pro football player and tech reporter who now serves as the editor of Kris Van Assche's website. He is a dedicated fitness enthusiast who splits his workout time between strength and conditioning training, martial arts and running.

Jonathan's athletic career began in college, where he was a star running back. He went on to play professionally for several years before injuries forced him to retire. Afterward, Jonathan transitioned into a career in tech reporting, where he quickly made a name for himself as a knowledgeable and insightful commentator on the industry.

In addition to his work with our website, Jonathan remains active in the world of sports. He regularly competes in martial arts tournaments and running events, and he is always looking for new ways to challenge himself physically. Jonathan is an inspiration to many people, and he is proof that it is never too late to pursue your passions.

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