Top 6 Best Pitching Gloves in 2024

You’re on the mound – brows furrowed – a bead of sweat trickling down your temple – you take a deep breath – hold the baseball tight– it’s now or never. And out of nowhere, the itch from your glove throws you off balance. You fumble, it’s a ball, and the pressure is now on you – the pitcher. BIG TIME.

You know – this story, and stories similar to this one, aren’t made up. Ask your friends or coach, somebody has lived it. Maybe the specifics are different. But at its core, we can all feel the pain of pitching gloves acting out all of a sudden. And messing up your entire rhythm.

So, if you want to throw that surprise knuckleball or changeup, you better have the best pitching glove by your side. Not that it’ll help you with the pitching itself, but it’ll stay out of your way and make it more comfortable for you to throw the pitch.

A pitcher has to shoulder a lot of responsibility. While the catcher can lead you to a certain extent, your innovation is the key to a great defensive game. So, you have to be on your A-game. That’s where I come in. I’ve highlighted some of the top-tier pitcher gloves that’ll help you become the king of the mound.

Top 5 Best Pitching Gloves Review

Before you start reading through the hands-on reviews I have here, you should know that utility gloves can be a decent substitute for a dedicated pitcher’s glove. Unless you’re playing college baseball or MLB, you really don’t have to get a dedicated pitching glove. You can use either your infield glove or outfield glove as an alternative.

However, a dedicated pitcher’s glove does have its advantages. The gloves I’ve highlighted here come from real-time experience. So, no BS – only facts. But fair warning – I’ll occasionally hype an excellent glove up with flowery language.

1. Rawlings Heart of the Hide (Premium Baseball Pitching Glove)

Not everyone has the stomach for a high-end glove. Honestly, people often come to me saying, “I want your recommendation for the best pitcher gloves.”

And when I direct them to one glove, they come back after a week later “it’s terrible, doesn’t break in, stiff as hell.” That’s why I said, and I repeat – a high-end glove isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. And same goes for the Rawlings Heart of the Hide.

The Rawlings HOH is an exceptional glove. If you take this glove to a coach or an MLB pro, they’ll tell you how good it is. So, you really don’t have to take my word for it.

The thing is, though, HOH is too tough to handle for a lot of ballplayers. Let me explain. Rawlings Heart of the Hide is a combination of both steer hide and cowhide leather.

I’ll get to the cowhide part later. Now, the steer hide used in the HOH is screened, and only 5 out of 100 raw materials are selected. What this does is – it makes this pitcher glove extremely durable.

The HOH I have right now lasted for 6 years. And trust me – it’s still going strong. But just because it lasted so long for me doesn’t mean the same will happen to you.

I used the Heart of the Hide pitching glove only for pitching. I have separate fielding gloves. That’s one of the reasons it lasted so long. And I maintain it with care.

The point is – this glove can last for 2 years or more if you take care of it. Most gloves give out after a season or two but not the HOH.

Anyways, the sturdy leather quality has a downside to it as well. The issue is – the leather makes the glove super stiff. Any youth ballplayer of ages 11-16 will have a herculean task ahead of them when trying to break this glove in.

So, I recommend this glove to players who are playing college baseball or higher.

Now, coming to the cowhide part of this pitching glove – it makes the palm softer. So, you feel more comfortable while wearing it.

It’s an 11.75-inch glove with a two-piece closed web. There’s an alternative of the same size but with modified trapeze webbing. So, your pitching tricks will be safe behind the glove.

And the modified trapeze version of the HOH can also work as a pro-tier infield glove as well.

The glove has breathable fabric. You don’t have to worry about the summer heat getting to your hands, then to your head and tripping you up.

Overall, the Heart of the Hide is an amazing glove. I know I said I’d state facts – but I also said I’d hype up a great glove, and that’s exactly what the HOH is.

It’s got durability, feel control, pocket depth – everything you can ask for from a top-shelf glove. But it’s meant for adults/pros/serious ballplayers.

The other pitching gloves that would come close to the HOH are – Wilson A2000, Nokona ELITE X2, Wilson A2K, Rawlings Pro Preferred. I mean, only a handful of gloves are as good as the Heart of the Hide.

Remember, a young champ – no matter how skilled he/she is – won’t be able to break the glove in properly. Despite Rawlings’ claim that the glove is 40% broken in, it’s still stiff.

But I think 15U ballplayers or older should be able to handle the HOH. Given that 15U players will struggle, they can get through it. And once they do, the Heart of the Hide is incredible.

2. Rawlings Player Preferred (Best Budget Pitcher Glove for Adults)

Even adults don’t always want to shell out north of $250 for a glove. Some people just want a casual pitcher’s mitt. I also don’t bring out my A-tier pitching glove when I’m out to have some fun.

So, weekend warriors who aren’t keen on spending big bucks should definitely have a look at the Rawlings Player Preferred.

I’m pretty sure you can already understand that the Player Preferred doesn’t even come close to the likes of Wilson A2000 and Rawlings Heart of the Hide.

And that’s completely okay. In fact, it would be an unfair comparison if you put a $250-$300 glove against a $50-$100 glove.

Anyways, the Player Preferred isn’t at the top of the mountain. But it’s not something you look down on either. This glove works wonders for people who simply want to have fun.

You can use it as an ideal slowpitch softball glove or take it out for baseball. It’s a utility glove – so there are no restrictions.

Plus, the Rawlings Player Preferred pitcher’s glove comes in a few different alterations. Let me give you a quick rundown of each.

If you’ve got a dominant right hand, you have three options – 12-inch/12.5-inch/ and 13-inch. The webbing type is either basket or H-web.

So, if you’re a pitcher cum outfielder, you should go for either 12.5-inch or 13-inch H-web gloves. Shortstops and other infielders can try out the basket web version of sizes 12 and 12.5-inches.

However, things get a bit more complicated for left-hand pitchers. You’ll always be hard put to find good LHT pitcher gloves. If you don’t place a custom order, the options will always be limited.

The Player Preferred has two options for lefties – 12.5-inch and 14-inch. You don’t get to choose 12-inch or 13-inch gloves. While the limitations aren’t something pleasant, it’s not a dealbreaker as well.

The Player Preferred has both Velcro wrist closure and pull-straps. It’s mostly Velcro, though. Only the 12.5-inch single post and the 33-inch catcher’s mitt have a pull-strap. So, adjustments shouldn’t be a problem with simple Velcro closure.

Besides, the cowhide leather used in this glove is soft. I didn’t feel any noticeable discomfort after wearing it for hours on end. But the fabric isn’t breathable.

So, if your hands sweat a lot, you’ll feel it. Still, I believe the Rawlings Player Preferred is a complete bang for the buck. The price-to-performance of this glove just makes it a cut above the rest.

You can’t get a better deal for adults for a sub-$90 price point. Speaking from experience – Rawlings Player Preferred is one of the best pitching gloves for the money.

3. Wilson A2000 (SuperSkin Premium Alternative)

In this list of the best gloves for pitchers, if anything can give the Rawlings Heart of the Hide a run for their money, it has to be the Wilson A2000.

The A2000 pitching glove is popular among both high school and college ballplayers. And before I share my experience about the A2000, you should know –

• It’s just as expensive as the HOH
• It’s an MLB pitcher’s glove (so the quality is top-notch)
• And it’s stiff and takes time to break in (any high-end glove takes time)

With that out of the way, let’s look into the details. If you have any idea about high-ticket Wilson gloves you probably know a bit about Pro Stock Leather. This leather is Wilson’s signature, and it’s made from premium US steer hides.

However, when it comes to the SuperSkin version, Wilson takes it one step further. The SuperSkin gives you the best of both worlds – less weight + more durability.

So, the glove won’t weigh you down. Usually, thick and durable leathers can be heavy and need some getting used to. But the Wilson is lighter than a lot of other top-notch pitching gloves.

Besides, a lot of MLB fielders love to keep one finger outside. That’s how I played as well because I think it gave me better control and easier close.

Anyways, if you’re on the one-finger-outside train, you will love the A2000’s flat finger binding. What it means is – the distance between the upper and inner portions is reduced.

So, you don’t experience any discomfort by repeatedly closing the glove.

And the A2000’s leather quality is impeccable – just as good as the Rawlings HOH. While I am a big Rawlings fan myself, I can’t take away any credit from Wilson here.

The comfort, control, grip, feel, and durability are simply in a whole other league when it comes to the A2000 SuperSkin. The laces are also super strong.

Usually, the laces are the most vulnerable part of any glove. However, the A2000 laces are tough as a truck. If you don’t stomp on these laces, they’re not likely to break anytime soon.

And the glove I listed here is a two-piece closed web 12-inch glove that can work as an outfield glove. You can use it in the infield as well.

But it won’t be an ideal shortstop or first baseman glove. This A2000 will work better as a third baseman glove because of the extra reach you can get.

But there are other options. The lowest is 11.75-inch, and the highest is 12.5-inch (FYI: 12.5-inch is only available for Left Hand Throw – for Right Hand Throw, the cap is at 12-inch).

So, if you want a multifunctional glove that you can use for both pitching and fielding, you can try any of these options. You can use the 11.75-inch for the infield, while the 12.5-inch works as an outfield glove.

The Wilson A2000 pitcher’s glove has a surefire spot on top of the best pitching gloves mountain. It’s durable, comfortable, feels incredible, and it’s easy to control.

However, just like the Rawlings Heart of the Hide, the A2000 SuperSkin isn’t for everyone. If you’re getting it as a dedicated pitching glove, that’s okay.

But players under the age of 16 will have a hard time breaking it in. So, this glove is best suited for college ballplayers and above.

4. Easton Tournament Elite (Best Mid-tier Pitching Glove)

Not everyone has a thick wallet to afford the Rawlings Heart of the Hide. Besides, it’s not just about money. Let’s say – you want a glove for travel ballplayers 14U or under.

In that case, it’s better to go for a mid-tier glove around $100-$150 instead of getting a glove that’s $250 or more (I’ll explain why). That’s why the Easton Tournament Elite comes.

If you have a 12U travel ballplayer, you wouldn’t want to get them an A2000 or HOH. A lot of people gave me the stink eye when I put the Easton Tournament Elite.

The fact is – 12U pitchers will have an average speed of 55MPH. Even a 14U pitcher can go as high as 70-75MPH (75MPH is extremely rare).

So, if you get a big-ticket glove, the speed at which they throw won’t be enough to break the glove in naturally. So, it’s better to go for a mid-tier glove, ergo, Easton Elite.

You should know that the Easton Tournament Elite is not one of the dedicated baseball pitcher gloves. It’s meant for the infield.

However, you don’t really need a 12-inch pitching glove for ballplayers under 16. Using a comfortable infield glove is fine. Scratch that – it’s better than fine.

The Easton Elite has cowhide leather, but it’s oil-tanned. What’s it got to do with you? Well, tanned gloves are comparatively easier to break-in.

So, even if the glove closing strength of a 12-year-old is weak or the pitches are slow, getting the glove ready for action won’t be a problem.

Although the actual size of the glove is 11.5-inch, it’s transitional. So, ballplayers from 8U to 14U or even 15U can have a great time with the Easton Elite.

Besides, the palm padding is thick and solid enough to keep your little leaguers safe from injuries.

Now, it’s not a closed-web pitching glove. It’s an I-web. If you live by the false belief that the hitter can see what you’re doing from 60-feet away through an I-web, you’re wrong.

So, closed webbing is good for pitchers – yes. But it’s not the only option. And the laces of this glove are designed for quick adjustments. When you’re switching back to the infield after pitching, you don’t have to spend a lot of time adjusting the wrists.

Overall, the Easton Tournament Elite is one of the best baseball gloves for pitchers. I know I just called the Rawlings HOH “best.” So, how can this one bag a top spot as well?

The thing is – HOH is for adults, and it’s a top-tier glove. But the Easton Elite is better for 10-14U travel ballplayers who need a mid-tier glove.

While from a pro’s perspective, the HOH is better, a youth baseball player would love the Easton Tournament Elite.

Note: And if you want a bit more performance and you’re okay with spending a few extra bucks, I’d suggest you look into the Rawlings R9. You can find it in the “honorary mention” of this article as well.

5. Franklin Sports Baseball Glove (Cheapest Pitching Glove for Youth)

Let me put on a disclaimer first – of all the baseball pitching gloves listed here – Franklin Field Master is the cheapest.

Now, the following question from all the eager audience would be (or at least should be) – “if this one’s the cheapest, is it the worst as well?”. And lo and behold, the answer is – yes.

Got you there, didn’t I?

Yes – Franklin Field Master is the worst pitching glove on this list. But that’s just one part of the story. The best pitcher gloves I have put up here in this article are the top dogs.

So, even if Franklin Field Master is the runt of the litter, it’s still way better than a lot of other trash gloves.

Now, I can’t be too hard on the Franklin Field Master, and you shouldn’t be as well. Why? Answer – the price point is less than $40.

Even the Rawlings Player Preferred (which is a budget pitching glove) is more expensive than the Field Master. So, you should look at it as a super cheap glove, but it can work in some situations.

Let’s say you have a rising tee-ball star who now wants to get into some baseball action. You can get them a Rawlings Player Preferred, but it’s meant for adults.

So, the glove may not fit. Instead, you can snag a Field Master, and you are the parent of the year (or month, depending on whether your kids like the glove).

The Field Master doesn’t have any fancy features to talk about. It’s a simple glove with synthetic leather. If you’ve used a synthetic leather mitt before, you should know that it isn’t as good as a full leather glove.

But it’s not all bad. It breaks in super quick. And youth players of ages 5-10 don’t have a lot of strength to close the glove properly. Stiff leather material can make this even worse. That’s why synthetic leather gloves are easier for youngsters to control.

Besides, the 12-inch Field Master that has a trapeze web looks fantastic. It might be a cheap youth glove but it looks like an MLB pitcher’s glove.

FYI: the US-themed glove looks better than the standard glove. So, chances are, your tee-ball stars love it because it looks like a high-end pitching glove.

Just like any other budget-oriented glove, the Field Master will have a lot of problems. The laces are weak, the pocket padding isn’t thick enough, the durability is poor – it’s easy to keep piling on the complaints.

But you have to understand that it’s a $20-$40 glove. So, you need to keep your expectations grounded.

If the Field Master is not the utility pitching glove that you want your kids to grow up with, you can try either the Rawlings SELECT PRO-LITE, Wilson A360, or Mizuno Prospect Finch.

They’re around the same price range, but the Field Master is the cheapest. All of these gloves have something good to offer, and you can look at each of them to see if any strike your fancy.

6. Rawlings R9 Baseball Glove

I’ve already mentioned a mid-tier glove – the Easton Tournament Elite. It’s perfect for ages 8-14. However, not everyone wants to break bread with Easton gloves.

That’s why I’ve decided to highlight a mid-tier glove from one of the popular pitching glove brands – Rawlings.

Anyways, if you don’t want to hang with Easton, you should give the R9 a shot. It’s almost similar in quality and performance. The brand name is what’s really different here.

So, the Rawlings R9 is a really good mid-tier glove. The R9 series pitching glove that I’m talking about here is 11.75-inch with modified trapeze web. So, once you or your kid’s done with pitching, one can easily get into the infield.

But the 11.75-inch is only for right-hand pitchers/throwers. If you’re a left-hand pitcher, you have to go for the 12-inch 2-piece closed web. Both can be used as infield gloves.

Still, the 11.75-inch is a bit better than the 12-inch when it comes to the different infield positions.

The bridge and the finger stalls are perfect for scooping groundballs. While “scooping groundballs” isn’t something a pitcher puts on his/her resume, it’s good to know that your glove can help you with it.

And it’s made of cowhide leather – so it’s really comfortable. No sudden itch is going to throw you off when you’re pitching.

It’s not as stiff as other high-end pitching gloves like Rawlings Pro Preferred, Heart of the Hide, or Wilson A2000. So, you won’t have to spend a lot of time breaking it in.

But you do need to use it regularly to get it 100% ready for the game. It’s not as soft as a synthetic leather Franklin Field Master. Expect at least a few weeks of catching drills to get it all primed up.

The biggest concern of parents when buying a youth glove is the thumb + palm padding. It’s true that fastballs hit or pitched by ballplayers under the age of 14 are going to be around 50-60MPH.

But erratic fastballs are a thing. And it can come zooming in. The R9 pitching glove has sturdy palm padding to make sure the string doesn’t take you and your kids down.

Overall, the R9 is an excellent mid-tier glove. Is it better than the Easton Tournament Elite, though? Well, the Rawlings R9 has the edge here, but Easton Elite is cheaper.

So, people with a budget of $100-$120 should go for the Easton Tournament Elite. And if you can shell out somewhere around $130-$150, jump onto the popular brand’s boat, aka Rawlings R9.

Some Helpful Tips on Choosing the Best Pitching Glove

Amongst all the other glove types in baseball (infield, outfield, catcher’s), I think identifying the best pitcher’s glove is the simplest. And there’s a good reason.

Pitchers don’t really need a durable glove unless they’re using it for fielding. So, the only thing you have to focus on is – comfort.

All you need to do is make sure that the glove doesn’t ruin your balance and stance when you’re throwing a pitch. Still, I’d like to put out a few general tips – so you can get the most value from your pitcher’s mitt purchase.

· Comfort is Priority #1

That’s all there is to a pitching glove, really. It’s all about comfort. When you try a pitching glove out, here’s what you need to ask yourself –

• Does it feel good?
• Does it cause any (even the slightest) discomfort when I’m moving around with it?
• Does it fit *exactly* as I want it to?
• Does it feel like you’re the king of the ring ready to take on whatever comes your way?

The last one’s a joke. But you get my point. A pitching glove must be super comfortable and I can’t stress this enough. Any minor discomfort coming from the glove is a strict no-no. So, what makes a pitcher glove comfortable?

• Leather quality (the softer the leather – the better you’ll feel)
• Design (flat finger lining, proper bridge, wider heels, etc.)
• Padding (keeps your palms protected and comfortable)
• Breathable inner fabric (no sweat)

You can’t expect to get all of the nice and juicy traits in one pitcher’s glove UNLESS you get a high-ticket glove like the Rawlings Heart of the Hide or Wilson A2000.

But even if you can get decent quality leather + padding, that’ll also help you remain calm, comfortable, and collected on the mound.

· Durability is Secondary but Important

When you spend somewhere close to $250+ for a pitcher glove, you’d want your money’s worth. And that’s completely okay. So, durability is a concern.

But nobody (even I) really cares too much about a pitching glove’s durability because a dedicated pitcher’s glove doesn’t face a lot of roughhousing.

Let me make this clear. My dedicated pitching glove only sees the light of day when I’m on the mound. I have a separate fielding glove. The pitcher glove comes out only when I’m on the mound, or it just stays inside my bag.

Basically, the glove just stays on my arm with almost nothing to do. That’s why a dedicated pitcher glove can last for 5 years or more.

However, if you want to use your pitching glove as a utility glove, it won’t last as long. A lot of travel ballplayers can’t afford to have two high-end gloves.

So, what they do instead is – get a good infield or outfield glove and use it to pitch as well. And if you do that, you need to think about durability.

The only thing you need to be concerned about when it comes to pitching glove durability –

• Leather quality (Kip leather/ US steer hide/ Cowhide/ Java leather)

And that’s all there is to it. If you just get a good leather glove, you shouldn’t have to worry too much. But you must know that all leathers are different.

So, an expensive $250 glove will always outlast a casual $70 glove. Just keep that in mind.

· Use the Pitcher’s Glove as a Utility Glove

This one’s a tip – something I believe you should do. It’s not a must. I think any ballplayer who’s not in college baseball or above should follow this habit of using a multi-purpose glove.

When I say multi-purpose, I don’t mean using an infield glove to sit behind the Homeplate. My point is – you can use an infield or outfield glove to pitch.

So, understand where your position is going to be and get a glove accordingly. You can use one glove. For instance, if you play as a third baseman + pitcher, an 11.75-12-inch glove should do the trick. And if you get a 12-inch pitching glove, you can transition to the outfield if need be.

In short, all ballplayers of ages 8-15 should think about utility when getting the best glove for pitchers. The goal is to use it in different positions and get the most out of your moolah.

And if you’re buying a pitching glove for a tee-ball player under the age of 8, you don’t have to worry about the things I mentioned here. Just get a cheap baseball glove that looks good (because looks matter to kids) and let them learn and enjoy the game. No pressure – for them and for you!

· Pocket Area Should Be Comfortable

This factor only applies to adult pitchers. If the pocket is uncomfortable, you’re likely to mess up. The pocket needs to be big and comfy enough to hold the baseball when you’re getting ready to pitch.

Besides, a lot of pitchers scratch the pocket surface just to get some momentum. So, if the pocket’s pathetic, it’ll perish.

· Price (Always a Major Concern)

Everyone wants to get a bang for all the buck they spend. You can’t blame anyone for it. It’s human nature. So, price is always a factor.

But another universal truth that you have to accept is – you get what you pay for. That’s why when you’re getting a budget pitching glove, keep your expectations realistic.

Let me give you a budget range based on age to help you out –

• Ages 5-10: $20 – $100 (Franklin Field Master / Rawlings Player Preferred)
• Ages 10-14: $100 – $200 (Easton Tournament Elite / Rawlings R9)
• Ages 14 and above: $200 – $350 or more (Rawlings Heart of the Hide / Wilson A2000)

There’s a glove in this list from each of the three different price ranges. Tee-ball youngsters don’t need a $150 glove. It’s a waste. Even pre-teen and teen ballplayers can’t handle the stiffness of a Rawlings Heart of the Hide or Wilson A2000. So, know what kind of pitcher glove you need before making a purchase.

What is the Best Brand for Pitching Gloves?

Hard to say. Not one brand can claim the throne of the best brand for pitcher gloves. While if you follow pure stats, the numbers are in favor of Rawlings. But Wilson, Easton, and Mizuno aren’t far behind when it comes to pitching. So, there’s no 100% accurate answer here.

Instead, you should just focus on the top 5 brands – and choose your weapon from their armory:

1. Rawlings
2. Wilson
3. Easton
4. Mizuno
5. All-Star

FAQ

In the upcoming section, I’ve provided a short answer to the most common questions revolving around the subject of pitching gloves.

Bring Out Your A-Game with Your Pitching Glove

“A pitcher has to look at the hitter as his mortal enemy.”

Early Wynn No matter what I write here to sum things up, I don’t think I can say it better than Early Wynn.

You need all the focus, determination, and creativity to get the better of an in-the-zone hitter. And your pitching glove is the last thing that should get in your way when you’ve turned your eagle-eye focus on.

So, if the target is to be a Zen-monk pitcher, the best pitching gloves have to be there to assist. As I said earlier, the glove won’t make you a better pitcher.

But it won’t throw you off by causing any discomfort when you need to put all your concentration on the hitter.

I’ll leave you with one last piece of advice (I’ve said it a few times through the article though). The advice is – don’t just get a top-shelf pitching glove because you can.

Think about who will use the glove, under what circumstances, and to get what kind of result. That’ll help you get the maximum value out of your purchase. Cheers!