If your child is dedicated to a game, nothing should seem off about it, and talking of gloves in a baseball game is like choosing a bat for a batter. Yes, there are many gloves marketed as ‘the best' but was it ever about what’s the best or what’s best for you?
If you agree with the latter, this guide is just for you, for we understand how much the youth baseball gloves matter in reshaping a child’s passion for the game.
For children between the ages of 3 to 10 years, baseball is an exploration therefore their gloves should be designed similarly to help them seamlessly explore the game.
Hence comfort, great fit, and durability are of utmost importance. Therefore, we have curated a list of baseball gloves keeping all these parameters in check.
Youth Gloves Comparison Chart
Glove | Material | Web | Good for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Buffalo and Stampede leather | T-web | All Positions | ||
Full grain leather | Trap-Eze and closed | All Pos. best for Catchers | ||
Full grain leather | Trap-Eze web | All Positions | ||
Full grain soft leather | Multiple Patterns | All Positions | ||
Full Pigskin Leather Shell | H-web design | Infield, outfield, pitcher | ||
Pig Skin leather | Basket, fully laced | Beginners | ||
Synthetic | Basket web | Tee ball | ||
Synthetic | H pattern | Tee ball |
Nokona Alpha Select S-200 Youth gloves
Glove Specs
Level of Play: Youth leagues
Leather type: Buffalo and Stampede
Back type: Open Back
Weight: 475g
Web Pattern: Modified T web
Glove Details & Brief Review
One of the undoubtedly best choices of gloves for those who need longevity. Whether it is a practice match or youth leagues, these gloves will share every victory with your child.
The Nokona Alpha Select S-200 gloves are made of the best quality buffalo and stampede leather which ensure its durability and intact shape throughout the years.
The glove weighs only 475g attributing its lightweight features to the Nolera composite padding system used for the glove. Since 1934, these gloves have been crafted no less than a legacy in the USA. It has a T web and an open back which helps your kid comfortably play in any position.
These are best for infielders due to their 11.25-11.5-inch size. Nevertheless, if you are seeking gloves for an outfielder, these gloves might be smaller. Nonetheless, these gloves are the best all-leather type gloves in the market even today.
Pros
Cons
Rawlings Gamer Series Youth Pro gloves
Best option for catchers too
Glove Specs
Leather type: Full grain leather shell
Laces: Tannesse tanned rawhide leather
Sizes: 11.25", 11.5", 12", 32"
Good for (Position): Infielder, Outfielder, Pitcher and Catcher
Web Pattern: Trap-Eze and closed for catchers
Glove Details & Brief Review
For kids with smaller hands, the Rawlings Gamer series gloves are a perfect fit. Not only do they fit in the size range but are also all leather gloves with a shell, Lining and padding. Concisely, safe and comfortable set of gloves.
Moreover, the youth pro taper fit will give your child an enjoyable sporting experience. Its Trap-Eze web pattern, which is considered the best for youth baseball gloves makes it more suitable for children.
If you look at the cons, it is a little stiff and hence takes a bit of extra effort to break into it. However, it is good for a fielder and amazing for its catcher’s mitt. Despite its setback, the Rawlings Gamer Series Youth Pro are the second-best gloves in this for their unmatched features.
Pros
Cons
Rawlings R9 Baseball Youth Pro Taper baseball gloves
Glove Specs
Level of Play: Travel ball, t-ball, youth leagues
Material: Full grain leather
Back: Open
Good for (Position): Infielder, Outfielder, Pitcher and Catcher
Web Pattern: Trap-Eze web
Glove Details & Brief Review
Want a tighter grip on the bat with those tiny hands? Try the Rawlings R9 with a pro taper fit. These come in all sizes and for all positions. Moreover, they are all leather too! Want to have a deeper glance at the gloves?
They have a reinforced palm pad to absorb the hard impact of the ball and a padded thumb sleeve to make the impact comfortable.
What’s best? The glove is game-ready with an 80% factory break-in, which means only a little effort by your little one to completely break in.
It is best suited for children from 7 to 10 years of age who desire a great catcher’s mitt and are comfortable as well as easy to use. Hence, these Rawlings R9s deserve to be in the top section of the youth baseball gloves list.
Pros
Cons
Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Gloves
Coolest Youth Baseball Glove
Glove Specs
Leather type: Full grain soft leather
Back: Conventional Back
Good for (Position): Infielder, Outfielder, Pitcher
Web Pattern: Multiple patterns
Glove Details & Brief Review
Want a glove that matches your personality? Here is the coolest glove you can gift your child. Their main feature is that they come in different MLB player models like Aaron Judge model, Kris Bryant model, Bryce Harper model, and many more.
It is a full-grain leather product known for its softness and durability. As for colors and designs, it comes in conventional black and web-designed options. Moreover, they are extremely comfortable for children with great padding and palm and index finger padding as well as cushioned fingerback lining.
Additionally, features like the Youth Pro taper fit pattern are beneficial for kids with smaller hands. Their small openings make it easy to fit on your child’s small hand. Moreover, breaking into these gloves is a piece of cake even for kids.
The gloves have 90% factory break-in and a bit of oiling and catching can do the rest of the job. Sounds cool? That’s why these gloves are included among the best. The only drawback of these gloves is that they are not long-lasting.
Pros
Cons
Wilson A450 Youth baseball Glove
Glove Specs
Leather type: Full Pigskin Leather Shell
Back: Open
Good for (Position): Infielder, Outfielder, Pitcher
Web Pattern: H-web design
Glove Details & Brief Review
If you are a Wilson fan you must have been scrolling down fast for this one. The best Wilson glove that made it to our list over here is the Wilson A450 Youth Baseball Glove. If you have softness and durability in your mind then this is the glove for you.
Those who vouch for Wilson A1000 must note that those gloves are harder, stiffer, bigger and hence less suitable for kids.
Whereas the Wilson 450 is made of pig skin leather and serves all these purposes. Moreover, these gloves are designed for infielders, midfielders as well as outfielders.
Nevertheless, we must highlight some disadvantages of the glove for you to make an informed choice. These gloves are neither great at cushioning nor defensive for the hand. The leather of the glove is thinner and the palm side might feel harder for children.
Pros
Cons
Mizuno GPP1075Y1 Youth Prospect Ball Glove
Best Youth Glove for Beginner
Glove Specs
Leather type: Pig Skin leather
Back: Conventional Open Back
Good for (Position): Infielder, Outfielder, Pitcher, catcher
Lacing: Hilo Lacing
Lining: MZO lining
Palm: Paraflex Palm
Web Pattern: Basket, Fully Closed, fully laced
Glove Details & Brief Review
Looking for baseball gloves for beginners? Stop right there! The pre-teen baseball players basically love these gloves. Crafted with Pig skin leather which offers them a soft touch these gloves also have a Hilo lacing.
This lacing ensures the integrity of the fully laced web and offers great flexibility too.
Additionally, they have MZO linings which wick away sweat and moisture ensuring a tight grip. Moreover, this glove is also game-ready with a 90% factory break-in.
The winning feature of the glove is the Paraflex technology which offers great flexibility to the palm. Nevertheless, this glove is still fit only for beginners who love to play at home. It is not designed for tournaments.
Also Check: Best Baseball Gloves for Adults
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Cons
Rawlings Players Series Youth Tball Glove
Best Tee Ball Glove
Glove Specs
Shell Material: Synthetic
Lining: Soft PVC
Palm Material: Leather
Back: Conventional Open Back
Good for: Tee-ball
Age: 3 Years to 9 Years
Web Pattern: Basket
Glove Details & Brief Review
Rawlings Players Series gloves are best to be used as Tee-ball gloves, best suited for playing in t-ball practices. These gloves are not all leather, only the palm area is leather to offer flexibility in palm movements.
The rest of the glove including the shell and web are designed with synthetic material. The glove lining is made of PVC material.
Also, the Rawlings' proprietory youth pro taper technology allows small hands to perfectly fit in despite having a variety of glove sizes.
They feature an open back, a basket pattern web, and many colour options to choose from.
In all these gloves are somewhat a combination of nice features and cool styles for the children to have their favourite colours on their gloves.
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Cons
Franklin Sports RTP Teeball Glove & Ball
Best deal for a T-ball glove
Glove Specs
Level of Play: Teeball
Material type: Synthetic
Good for (Position): T-ball and catching only
Web Pattern: H pattern
Glove Details & Brief Review
One should not underestimate the Franklin Sports RTP for its performance as this teeball glove for kids also means a great deal for the parents. This glove is not leather, and that ideally makes it one of the best-priced gloves.
Within 20 bucks you get a baseball glove and ball for your child. That is a great option for beginners in the field. The material is lightweight and comfortable adding to its features.
However, it is a little stiff to use in the beginning but practice also makes a baseball glove perfect!
The ball in the package is also suited only for beginners. This set will surely build the curiosity for the game in your child.
So, while they figure out if baseball is their A-game or not you can figure out the next best professional set of gloves and other baseball accessories for them.
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So, What’s the Final Verdict?
We would still like to reiterate that the best youth baseball gloves for your child are the ones that fulfil all your requirements. Based on different market demands, we have put in a lot of hard work and research to curate this list for you.
You can find all types of gloves based on your necessity in this list. Therefore, if you want the best of the best without a second opinion just go for the Nokona Alpha Select S-200. It has all the features that one would need in a baseball glove.
For a budget-friendly alternative, you can choose the best youth catcher's mitt the Rawlings Gamers Series or the Rawlings R9 series. There isn’t much difference between the two except for personal preference.
However, if you are a loyal Wilson lover, the Wilson's 450 youth series is just for you. Nonetheless, we would suggest you go for the Wilson A1000 if your child has a bigger hand. It is better to try on the glove before making a choice.
For a cool look go for Rawlings Select Pro MLB players edition and select from a plethora of colour options. The Mizuno Youth Prospects youth glove, Rawlings Players series, and Franklin Sports RTP are better suited for beginners based on their age.
We hope this helps you make your choice and give your child the best and most satisfying baseball experience of all time. Stay tuned with us for more such content and tips for baseball.