To play an infielder position requires a good quality infielder glove, and many people make the mistake of thinking that one glove suits all in baseball. This isn’t true, as there are some key differences, for example, between an outfield glove and an infield glove.
It can be a little overwhelming to know which type of glove is right for you, as there are many brands offering different features and designs. To help with the buying process, we’ve put together our top 12 best infield gloves and a guide to help you know what to look for.
Summary: Our Top 12 Best Infielder Gloves
Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove Series |
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Wilson A2000 SuperSkin Baseball Glove Series |
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Wilson A900 Baseball Glove Series |
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Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series |
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Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Gloves (MLB Player Models) |
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Wilson A1000 PF88 Dustin Pedroia Model 11.25" Baseball Glove - Right Hand Throw |
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Rawlings Heart of The Hide Baseball Glove Series |
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Wilson A700 Baseball Glove Series |
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Mizuno Franchise Baseball Glove Series |
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Rawlings Renegade Baseball/Softball Glove Series |
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Rawlings Player Preferred Adult Baseball/Softball Glove Series |
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Rawlings Sure Catch Youth Softball Glove Series |
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12 of the Best Infielders Gloves in 2024
Whether you’re looking for the best infield gloves for yourself or a youth player, it saves time and money to compare the different products out there and pick a glove that fully suits your needs. We’ve put together a list of the best infield gloves in 2024 which combine quality, style, and durability.
Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove Series
The Wilson 11.5″ A2000 series glove is designed with Pro Stock Leather, and a thin heel pad helps break in the glove quickly so they are game ready in no time. A Dual Welting offers a durable shallow pocket, and the glove features DriLex Wrist Lining which keeps your hands comfortable, cool, and dry. This infield glove is also great for middle infielders. The Wilson A2000 might be one of the most expensive baseball glove series, but the quality and durability of the glove make up for the price.
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Wilson A2000 SuperSkin Baseball Glove Series
This Wilson A2000 SuperSkin series is designed to fit smaller hands. The use of Pro Stock Leather keeps the glove extremely durable and gives it a rugged look and feel. In addition, this infield glove is made from Black SuperSkin, which is lighter than regular leather but still as flexible and strong. As with the previous glove, this series features Dual Welting for a long lasting shallow pocket, making it ideal for first base to third base players.
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Wilson A900 Baseball Glove Series
The Wilson A900 11.5″ infield glove is made with a leather shell, palm liner and laces for a completely old school leather look and feel. A double palm construction and heel keep these infielder gloves flexible and secure. In addition, these infield gloves feature a quick break in period so adult and youth players can begin using them straight away.
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Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series
The Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series is designed with comfort in mind. Bio Soft Leather gives this infield glove a smooth, professional look and provides a soft but firm control over the ball. A center pocket and open back are used, in addition to a PlusGrip Thumb which offers an extremely comfortable padded thumb area. These gloves are perfect for first base players.
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Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth Baseball Gloves (MLB Player Models)
These infield baseball gloves by Rawling for Youth players will suit growing hands and provide high levels of protection. At 11.5″, the palm and index finger padding of the glove also comes with an additional cushioned finger back lining meaning young players can perform with confidence and comfort. An added bonus is that these infielder gloves come 90% broken in straight from the factory and feature leather laces.
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Wilson A1000 PF88 Dustin Pedroia Model 11.25″ Baseball Glove – Right Hand Throw
Made from a full grain leather construction, this Wilson infield baseball glove features narrower finger stalls and an additional smaller wrist opening, making it the perfect open back option for those with smaller hands. Break in time is reduced due to the leather used, so players can begin using the glove straight away. In addition, these infield baseball gloves feature an H-Web design.
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Rawlings Heart of The Hide Baseball Glove Series
The Rawlings Heart of The Hide baseball gloves are designed to break in easily, and this premium leather is cut from 5% steer hide. Suitable for all players, female, male, and high school ages upwards, this open back pitchers glove is strong and durable. In addition, these infield baseball gloves are made with leather laces and a padded thumb sleeve for extra comfort and style. The glove comes 40% factory break in.
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Wilson A700 Baseball Glove Series
The Wilson A700 Baseball Glove Series comes in at a mid-range price but is still built with high quality materials. Made from soft, full grain cowhide leather, these open back infield gloves are durable and firm but also lightweight. Featuring a quick break in time and a pocket for extra comfort, this baseball glove for adults can also be used by high school players.
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Mizuno Franchise Baseball Glove Series
These Mizuno 11.5″ infield baseball gloves feature a Parashock Plus Palm Pad which is used to protect the hand and reduce the risk of injury. A pocket set under the web helps shape the glove so it provides maximum comfort, and HiLo Lacing is used to increase flexibility. In addition to having an open back, Java Leather is the material used for a durable, long lasting construction.
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Rawlings Renegade Baseball/Softball Glove Series
The Rawlings Renegade Glove Series is designed with full grain leather to suit utility players and can be used for any position. With an 11.5″ pattern, these gloves feature a snug pocket and a high-density cushioned palm and index finger pad. The use of a double bar web open back allows for flexibility and a great fit around the hand, great for the first base – third base players. Suitable for youth and adult players, this glove is ideal for all players.
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Rawlings Player Preferred Adult Baseball/Softball Glove Series
The Rawlings Player Preferred Series has designed a baseball glove for men and women made from full grain oiled leather, which keeps comfort and protection in mind. A zero shock palm pad is used to protect the hand from high impact balls, and a flex loop velcro strap makes the glove comfortable and adjustable. A pocket and a basket open back web design are also featured. In addition, this glove can be used for all positions.
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Rawlings Sure Catch Youth Softball Glove Series
The cheapest baseball glove out of our selection but still includes plenty of comfort and durability, the Rawlings Sure Catch Youth Series is perfect for young players. Designed to be used for any position, these baseball gloves for outfielders and infielders fits ages 4-11 and features a softshell all leather design and a basket web pattern to allow for flexibility. The glove is 100% factory break in, so young players can get straight out onto the field.
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Things to Look Out For When Buying Infielder Gloves
When buying the best glove for baseball, there are a few areas to keep in mind. The material, throwing hand, padding, and price are just a few of the things that you should focus on so that you buy a glove that suits your needs. Other factors such as the pocket size and webbing will also need to be considered, as to find the best baseball gloves, you’ll need one which fits your hand securely and offers protection from high impact balls.
Material
The type of material you choose usually depends on your budget. Leather and synthetic materials are more commonly used for infield gloves. Synthetic materials are often used as they are cheaper than other materials. They’ll do a good job but they won’t be as durable or comfortable are using leather.
In general, leather is the best high quality material that can be used when searching for the best gloves for baseball, but it is a lot more expensive. Treated leather is also a good option as it very soft and has a quick break in period.
How To Choose The Right Baseball Glove?
Throwing Hand
To find the best infielder glove for you, it’s important to know the differences between a left-handed thrower and a right-handed thrower. If you are a right-handed thrower, you’ll wear the glove on your left hand and vice versa.
If you can throw with both, the best idea is to spend some time to find out which arm is stronger, and then you can pick the best infielder glove suitable for your other hand.
Pocket Size
Compared to an outfielder’s glove, infielders have a smaller pocket size. This pocket adds an extra layer of protection from fastballs and allows the player to exchange balls without wasting time.
Although you won’t need a very deep pocket like other positions require if you are a utility player it’s a good idea to invest in a glove that has a slightly deeper pocket than that of the smallest infielder glove.
Wrist Adjustment
There are a couple of different types when it comes to wrist adjustment; laced, buckle, velcro, and D-ring. The aim of the wrist adjustment is to keep the glove snug around your wrist, which keeps it in place and allows the player to perform securely and comfortably.
It’s important to have a glove with a wrist adjustment that fits you perfectly, as you don’t want to have to keep adjusting it when playing.
Padding
Padding inside the glove is an essential part of the construction. Not only does it protect the hand, but it also provides comfort and durability. An infielder glove needs more padding than an outfielder glove due to the fact that they receive more balls at a greater impact.
The padding of the best infield glove will cushion the blow and reduce the risk of injury. It is important to find the balance with the padding though as too much can impact the quality of your performance.
Check this Video About Baseball Infield Gloves Web patterns/sizes:
Webbing
When it comes to webbing, the best infield glove should have looser stitches than other positions, as this helps with feeling more in control when handling the ball. If you play more than one position, adjustable webbing may be a good option for you.
Price
There are plenty of high quality infielder gloves that don’t break the bank. If you only play casually, then there’s no need to opt for high quality leather, unless your budget allows for it.
If you’re just starting out or you are searching for the best baseball gloves for youth infielders, avoid buying the most expensive baseball gloves as chances are you’ll only need a low-mid range priced glove which is still high quality.
Is it the Right Size for You?
Finding the right size when looking for infielder baseball gloves is crucial as you need one which fits perfectly. If it doesn’t, you’ll end up playing uncomfortably and waste valuable time and attention being distracted by fiddling around with the glove.
Infield Glove Sizing
To make it easy when choosing your size, we’ve broken down the different baseball gloves size for each position. It’s always recommended to try the gloves first and make sure they fit comfortably. They should be snug but not restrictive, and it’s important that they don’t move around too much when the hand is in motion.
First Base
First baseman gloves are unique because of their length compared to other types of gloves. A size of roughly 12 ¼” – 12 ¾” helps players to extend their reach and catch the ball with ease.
Second Base
Players in second base tend to have slightly shorter gloves in length, usually spanning between 11” – 11 ½”. This is because they need to make quick throws whilst maintaining full control over the ball.
What’s the Proper Glove Size? Watch this Video:
Shortstop
The sizes 11 ¼” – 11 ¾” for a shortstop glove is ideal for players who need to make quick plays. Going up to 11 ¾ allows taller players to perform with confidence.
Third Base
The best glove sizes for third base players and middle infielders range between 11 ½” – 12”. This size keeps the player in control but is also lightweight and easy to play with.
Pitcher
The majority of players tend to go for a baseball pitching glove which ranges between 11 ½” – 12”, and they prefer a pitchers baseball glove which has a closed web design as this conceals their grip from the opposition. Baseball pitching gloves should also be lighter and extremely comfortable due to the amount they are used.
Catcher
Catchers gloves are built to handle a whopping 70+ mph from balls, over and over again. The gloves tend to have heavy padding and are fingerless. The most common size for a catcher’s mitt is 32 ½” – 35”, and they should feature a shallow pocket to help with fast throws.
FAQs
What is the best glove for a shortstop?
For the best gloves in baseball for a shortstop, try brands such as Wilson, Rawlings and Mizuno. These brands of baseball gloves have plenty of ranges and types so you can find a glove with your preferences, and according to your budget.
Is there a difference between infield and outfield gloves?
The main difference between infield and outfield gloves are the size. Infield baseball gloves tend to range from 10 ¾ – 12 inches, whilst outfield gloves are larger to help with the range of space being covered by the player.
Can I use an infield glove in the outfield?
Infield gloves are smaller than outfield gloves, so it isn’t advised to use them for that position. If you play both, it’s better to have two separate gloves which will allow you to play comfortably.
Why do baseball gloves have a finger hole?
Some infielders prefer to keep their index finger out of the glove, as it’s in the direct position to be hit by the ball. By keeping it out, they gain an extra level of padding which protects the hand.
Final Thoughts
When buying the best infield gloves, it’s important to balance out between your budget and the quality of the infield glove. There are plenty of options as listed above which have been designed with the best, durable materials and comfortable designs but don’t cost an extortionate amount.
When it comes to buying the best infielder glove, you’ll need to take into account the materials, the position you play, and the construction of the glove to find one which suits you best. Baseball and softball equipment such as infield gloves, the best cleats for flat feet, and the best baseball socks are all designed to help you or your youth player play at your best level, and reduce the risk of injury during high intensity games.
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