Pro Tips For Choosing the Right Baseball Mitt

As any baseball player knows, a good baseball mitt is essential to fielding balls at every position. From the clam-like design of the catcher’s mitt to the extra padding in the pitcher’s glove, different types of baseball gloves are used by players of various positions.

Choosing the right baseball mitt for a specific position can be tricky. Here are a few Pro Tips to help you choose the best ball glove for you:

A first baseman’s glove is long and wide to aid in scooping up grounders off the dirt and also helps them field throws from infielders. First basemen’s gloves have a 12+1/2- to 12-plus-3/4-inch pattern and usually feature closed webbing.

Outfielders need a larger, longer glove to catch fly balls and extend their reach. The pocket of an outfielder’s glove is deeper to help them secure the ball, and many prefer Trapeze or H-Webs for a flexible and responsive pocket.

Shortstops and second basemen use a slightly shallower pocket in their mitt to easily transfer and release the ball quickly during double plays. Some players opt for a rounded pocket and stiffer thumb and pinky reinforcements, which allow them to close the glove faster. Other players, such as New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, favor a more flexible glove with a shallow pocket, and he likes the Rev1x model for its 3D-printed insets on the thumb and pinky. These unique designs let a player put a little of themselves into the design.