Best Youth Catchers Mitt in 2024 [Tee-Ball to Senior League – It’s All Here]

When I was a kid, I annoyed my daddy to the brink of fury for a catcher’s mitt. Back then, little did I know about the sizing and compatibility issues. I thought – nothing could be easier than getting a youth catcher’s mitt. Boy, was I wrong.

The problem erupts because of the term “youth”. Now, if you look at the Little League Division Chart for Baseball – you’ll see a whopping range from 4 to 16 years.

So, when you look for an ideal youth catcher’s mitt size – it can go anywhere from 9-inches to 35-inches – crazy range.

So, you have to navigate through the mitt-sizing maze before you even try to find the best youth catchers mitt.

And that’s why you’ll see that I have categorized this list into different sections – tee ball, minor, major, intermediate, junior, and senior. The categorization will help you find the perfect-sized mitt for your champ because even an incredible mitt is useless if it doesn’t fit.

Plus, once your rising star is equipped with the right catcher’s mitt, you can watch them take the reins and lead the team to victory. So, let me show you what I’ve got in store for you and your up-and-coming champion.

Top 5 Best Youth Catchers Mitt Reviews

A short disclaimer before I begin. There are hundreds of youth catcher’s mitts out there, and most of them are on par with each other. So, screening through most of them but selecting only 5 doesn’t mean the rest of the lot is trash.

I could’ve easily stretched this list to 30 mitts, but that won’t be pragmatic. So, I suggest you take your time to read through the reviews because I’m going to compare/recommend possible alternatives to the mitts I have on this list. If you don’t get what I’m saying, it’s completely okay. Just read, and you’ll see how I assess the best catchers mitts for youth.

Reference Table (Age/Division/Size):

1. Rawlings R9

I know what it looks like. “How could you put Rawlings R9 on top when you’ve got Wilson A2000, Rawlings Heart of the Hide, All-Star Elite?” Before you get on your high horse, hear me out.

The A2000, Heart of the Hide, and All-Star Elite are high-end mitts that only high school players should take. If you don’t fall under the Junior/Senior League in Little League Division, you don’t need these mitts – not till the Intermediate division, at least.

So, the Rawlings R9 Catcher’s Mitt was the only all-around option I had that could satisfy everyone from Minor to Senior League.

Similar to the other high-end mitts just mentioned above, the R9 is also made of full-grain leather. But it’s not cheap pigskin or Vinyl. So, it won’t just get shredded after a couple of intense matches.

Besides, the thumbs and palm liners are padded. Catcher mitts have to take the brunt of the fastball impact because of an average 23.28% whiff rate.

So, if the padding doesn’t hold up to its promise, you’ll wake up the next day with a sore arm. But the R9 does hold up, provided that the pitcher’s not an adult.

And you can use the finger liners to keep your forefinger out. The back liner is also thick enough to protect your fingers from bruises. Again, everything I’ve said about the mitt’s impact resistance only applies to youth baseball and softball because adult pitching speed is way higher.

Still, does it mean adults can’t use this mitt at all? Well, this one question and the subsequent answer is what propelled me to keep the Rawlings R9 on top instead of the Rawlings Renegade.

The R9 is suitable for adults as well. The size of the R9 is 32-inches – it won’t fit people with big hands. However, I’ve used it, and a lot of my friends have tried it out without any noticeable discomfort.

Now that the Rawlings Renegade is in the picture – let me tell you what I meant by “compare/recommend possible alternatives”. The Renegade is a cheaper catcher’s mitt compared to the R9. So, if you think the R9 is breaking your budget, just get the Renegade.

The Rawlings Renegade is also a stellar Rawlings youth catcher’s mitt. However, the R9’s padding is much thicker in comparison. Plus, the R9 is more resistant to wear and tear because of the padding.

But the Renegade is compatible with both baseball and softball, while the R9 is a baseball-only mitt.

Both the Renegade and R9 do have their weaknesses, though. The leather – while it’s not synthetic – is still weaker than the premium steer hide leather of HOH, A2000, or other high-end mitts. However, if it’s used by players under 13, the leather quality won’t make a difference.

I believe the Rawlings R9 is perfect for kids aged 10 to 13. If I had to give it a title, I’d say it’s the best catcher’s mitt for 12-year-olds.

But people who aren’t willing to shell out around $100 and want a decent youth catcher’s glove for half the price have a look into the Rawlings Renegade. I’ve already talked about it. The features are quite similar, excluding a few differences mentioned above.

2. Wilson A1000

When it comes to durability and performance, the Rawlings R9 and Wilson A1000 are kinds of neck and neck. However, there are a few differences – that’s why the R9 is a better deal in my books. Anyways, the A1000 can still be the mitt you dance with if you’re used to the build and comfort of Wilson

From what I’ve experienced, players who prefer a certain brand find it difficult to move away from it. It’s not because these ballplayers aren’t flexible or can’t get used to a new glove.

But the thing is – each branded glove has a different feel. So, once you master the use of one glove, it’s not easy to move away.

The A1000 is my go-to recommendation for parents/kids who want to hop onto the Wilson train. The first dividing line between the R9 and A1000 is the price – a small $20 or so difference between the two. So, you can get the R9 at a more affordable price point.

However, the A1000 has Pro Stock Leather. So, the $20 increase in price is somewhat justified. Rawlings R9 is also full-grain leather, but the Pro Stock is simply a cut above the rest.

Still, it isn’t the same Pro Stock Leather that you come to love and expect from the A2000 SuperSkin or A2K. It’s a bit weak. But it’s still just a bit better than the leather of R9.

So, why even bother looking at the R9, right? The thing is – R9 has a finger lining on the back to make it easy for new players – especially youth players – to get a feel for the catcher position. You don’t get that with the A1000.

Plus, the R9 has a deeper pocket. So, newbies who often drop the ball will have an easier time with the Rawlings R9. Now, you see why R9’s on top, right?

The 33-inch A1000 is sturdy, and it can take roughhousing without breaking a sweat. Plus, I think kids love the Velcro adjustment option over the laced adjustments. It’s easy – simple – time-efficient. But the lace adjustments do give you a professional feeling.

Anyways, if you think the A1000 is going to hurt your wallet, you can look at the Wilson A360. It’s almost $60 cheaper than the A1000. Besides, the 31.5-inches of the A360 is better for kids around the ages of 8-12 than the A1000’s 33-inch.

However, the A360 doesn’t have Pro Stock Leather. So, you won’t get premium durability. But it’s alright for a 10–11-year-old. Let’s be honest, 10-year-old ballplayers can do a maximum speed of 50MPH. So, this speed won’t hurt the A360.

On the other hand, if you want to get down just a bit from the 33-inches, there’s always the Wilson Sporting Goods A700 Pedroia Fit. It doesn’t have Pro Stock. But the cowhide is enough to handle consistent fastball impacts.

There’s no finger lining on the A700 as well. But the easy Velcro adjustment makes up for it. The point is – A700 is a 32.5-inch cowhide leathered version of the A1000, capeesh?

So, you got three Wilson youth catcher’s mitt reviews in one here. Just see what you need and I’m pretty sure one of these three mitts can definitely be your knight in shining armor.

3. Rawlings Players

Both the catcher’s mitts mentioned above were for middle and high school ballplayers. It’s not something you’d see on the hands of a tee-ball kid. Plus, most people aren’t keen on spending north of $100.

So, if you just want a mitt that’ll keep your toddlers busy with baseball/softball, the Rawlings Players T-Ball Utility Gloves would be a really good option.

Remember, the Rawlings Players is a utility glove. It’s not a dedicated catcher’s mitt – not by a long shot. Even the smallest catcher’s mitt would be around 27-inches. The Rawlings Players’ maximum size is 11.5 – apart from the even smaller 10- and 9-inches.

So, why goof around with a utility glove when you can get a catcher’s mitt, right? The answer’s simple. Money. This utility costs around $15-$25, depending on what size you choose. Clearly, it’s cheaper than both the mitts I talked about earlier – even the ones I mentioned during the discussion of R9 and Wilson A1000.

The Rawlings Players T-Ball glove has a couple of cool color options. There’s the traditional woody texture, white and blue, black, red, and even pink shades. So, your young champ gets the option to find his/her favorite color.

And some iterations of this glove have a ball included. Just move the cursor around the different colors, and you’ll see images of ball + glove.

Besides, there are two webbing options – the classic closed web and H-web. I prefer the H-web because it makes it easier for kids to see the incoming ball. Plus, the closed web is usually a pitcher’s and catcher’s best friend.

But at the age they’ll be using this utility glove (3-9), the benefits of the webbing won’t really matter.

If you didn’t guess the material already by looking at the price point, let me tell you that it’s not made of leather. No sub-$50 glove is. It’s all Vinyl, which as we all know, is another fancy name for plastic.

Think – the plastic here isn’t as bad as it looks. A child around 3-8 won’t cross the 40MPH pitching threshold. So, the plastic material is more than enough to handle the impact as long as your dog doesn’t play rough with it.

On a similar budget, you can also get the Franklin Sports Tee-ball Glove. All the different color versions of this utility glove come with a ball. However, the size is 9-inches. So, it’ll only be suitable for 3–6-year-olds.

If you want a bigger size, you could look into the Franklin Sports Tee-ball Infinite Web – it’s 10.5 inches. And if that doesn’t work either, there’s always the Franklin Field Master – you’ll get glove sizes ranging from 10-14 inches.

4. All-Star CM100TM

The Rawlings R9 or the Wilson A1000 are mitts you can take to the diamond for drills and games. However, a lot of Minor and new Major League players need to get in the groove of becoming catchers. That’s where the All-Star CM100TM comes into the mix. FYI – the “TM” stands for training mitts.

If you’re a long-time fan of All-Star’s premium gears, you should already be well aware of their prices. Usually, anything with an All-Star tag – chest protectors, infield/outfield gloves, catcher’s mitts – is beyond the $300 threshold. But the All-Star CM100TM goes in the opposite direction. It’s less than $100.

These training mitts are around 27-inches. You can comfortably practice baseball with it, but softball will be a bit of a struggle. However, the glove doesn’t need a complicated break-in surgery.

Just take it for a swing a couple of times, and it should be all good. I was able to close the mitt pretty comfortably around a ball after 48 hours – 2 days of fielding sessions.

The Velcro wrist adjustment makes it easy to tighten/loosen the glove. With this mitt, you can keep your finger out and practice all you want. And yes – the leather is Japanese steer hide.

So, it’s not as strong as US steer hide, but it’s no slouch either. You can have long sessions with this mitt without having to worry about durability.

And the whole point of the training mitt – it has a smaller pocket compared to its overall size. The purpose of this mitt is to train catchers to keep the ball inside the pocket. So, practicing with small = better precision with an actual mitt.

Most players – especially beginners – struggle with moving their hands fast enough to get proper ball-to-pocket contact. What happens is that – the ball strikes the webbing. So, this training mitt can help you polish your fundamentals.

If you’re not a big fan of training mitts, there’s always the All-Star Pro-Advanced 33.5 Inch CM3100SBT. It’s an All-Star special for high-school ballplayers looking to go pro.

With US steer hide leather – easy closing – quick break-in with pre-oiled leather – and overall design makes it the best catcher’s mitt for 13-year-old. However, you’ll need to spend an extra $200 compared to the CM100TM.

That’s why I recommend the All-Star CM100TM for players who are new to baseball/softball. You can get a lot of practice and get used to the catcher’s position before making a fool of yourself on the diamond.

Besides, nobody wants their game mitts to get all dusty and shitty. So, having a dedicated training mitt will help you keep your game-day gloves in tip-top shape.

5. Rawlings Liberty Advanced

All the youth catcher’s mitts I’ve highlighted until now are exclusively for baseball. You can try it out with softball, but they’re not dedicated softball mitts. Without a dedicated mitt, you’ll run into trouble.

So, if you’re looking for a top-shelf fastpitch catcher’s mitt, I’d suggest you give the Rawlings Liberty Advanced a shot.

First of all, the Rawlings Liberty Advanced isn’t for everyone. The 34-inch size won’t fit most little leaguers. So, only ballplayers in the upper Junior League or Senior League should take this mitt into consideration.

With that said, this mitt has two of my favorite things – Poron XRD and full-grain leather. Let me explain one at a time. If you look Poron XRD up, you’ll see that this element alone can make any bag/glove/mitt lightweight without compromising durability. So, you get the best of both worlds.

And full-grain leather is always better than top-grain – especially if you need a mitt that can take a punch or two. So, both these features combined make the Liberty Advanced a beast with speed. You’ll get durability – my Liberty Advanced lasted for three seasons – and mobility.

The one thing I don’t like is the H-web in this mitt. Let me be honest – I lean more towards closed webbing as a catcher instead of an H-web. I know H-web can be really useful because of the added visibility.

But it’s just a matter of preference. So, if you’re used to H-webs, this little hurdle shouldn’t stop you.

There’s a finger lining as well. So, the lining makes the entire catching experience more comfortable. And according to Rawlings, this mitt should break in super-fast. I thought so too, because it’s pre-treated with oil.

However, it does take some time. And if you use break-in oil, there’s a good chance that the white color turns gray. Still, it’s an incredible catcher’s mitt – and a complete bang for the buck.

But female softball players often don’t feel at home with the Liberty Advanced. It didn’t happen to all the girl softball players I coach, but there’s a possibility. So, if the Rawlings Liberty Advanced doesn’t meet your fastpitch needs, you should take a look at the Mizuno Prospect GXC112.

It’s a gender-engineered Mizuno youth catcher’s mitt – so girls won’t have any trouble whatsoever using it. The leather quality is decent, but Liberty Advanced has better leather.

However, in the GXC112’s defense, it’s cheaper than the Liberty Advanced. So, if you’re a Mizuno head – a lot of players under my wings are – I think the GXC112 should live up to your expectations.

And yes – for budget hunters who want reasonable quality but can’t shell out big bucks – there’s always the Rawlings Player Preferred. I’ve talked so much about the Player Preferred in so many different posts I have here. It even has a respectable position in the top catcher’s mitt list.

Anyways, back to the Liberty Advanced. If you’ve got the cash to spare, a desire to ace your fastpitch league, a dream to come out as an MVP catcher, a goal to lead your team – the Rawlings Liberty Advanced should be the mitt you party with.

I know it looks like I’m trying to go for a hard sell. But I’m not. It’s the most reasonably priced premium catcher’s mitt you can get. Do your own homework on this mitt, and you’ll see why I boldly call it the best youth catcher’s glove.

How to Choose the Best Youth Catchers Mitt (Buying Guide)

I’ve shopped for both adult and youth catcher’s mitts extensively. And from what I’ve been through, I think choosing a mitt for youngsters is harder. I know adults need more nuanced features because they’re competing at the highest level.

But with so many divisions in Little League, and if you factor in your kid’s growth, the process becomes even tougher. See? That’s why I’m about to provide a handy guideline on choosing the best youth catcher’s mitt.

This should give you an idea of *why* a feature matters, *who* the features are suited for, *how* it’ll be beneficial for up-and-coming little leaguers, and *what* value you can get from your purchase. Sound cool? Let’s have a look.

Age – Simple Yet Significant

Before you get bogged down with questions like –

• What’s the leather on the mitt?
• What’s the brand? How long has this brand been in the scene?
• What do the pockets feel like? (And more…)

You need to figure out the size. Little leaguers can grow up real fast, and if you’re not careful with sizing, you might have an unusable mitt after one season. So, be careful when choosing the size of the mitt.

Think about it this way – the best catcher’s mitt for a 14-year-old would be way bigger than a 7-year-olds little league catcher’s mitt. If you feel confused, I will refer you to the chart, which should give you a rough idea.

But even your 10-year-old kid can have bigger/smaller hands. So, make sure you measure first, then look at other features.

Durability and Comfort Matters

When you’re all done with the mitt sizing mess, it’s time to look into durability. I know I’ve mentioned both durability and comfort. So, I’ll talk about why both these factors are intertwined and important.

You don’t want the mitt you just bought to run out of gas after 5-10 games. Nobody wants that. You have to go back to do more research about a new mitt and put your faith in another new purchase. It’s annoying. So, how do you prevent any of this from happening?

You check the leather or material quality. Not all mitts/gloves are made of leather. There are other materials. Let me give you a quick rundown of baseball/softball construction material –

• Kip leather (durable and soft – the best of both worlds but expensive)
• Steer hide (most durable but has a longer break-in point – still quite expensive)
• Cowhide (a bit weaker than steer hide but still really powerful – breaks in a little quicker than steer hides)
• Pigskin (Weaker than other premium leather variants – but doesn’t require any break-in time/effort – really cheap)
• Vinyl (Not leather – it’s plastic – is only suitable for toddlers – no break-in time required – can’t get any cheaper than this)

As you can see, kip leather is the alpha here. However, steer hides and cowhides aren’t your lazy good-for-nothings. They can take a ton of beating and last for years before even showing any serious signs of damage.

So, if you’ve got the green for kip leather, it’s the ultimate option. But you might just save a few hundred bucks and go with cowhide. For instance, the Rawlings Liberty Advanced and Wilson A1000 can be excellent catcher’s mitt for high-octane Little League matches.

I haven’t talked about comfort yet. Why? Because comfort is a result of two things –

• Overall design
• Time spent with the glove

I’ve already discussed the “overall design” part. The overall design is a combination of material used to make the mitt + pocket-size + impact-resistant features + lacing + wrist adjustments.

Don’t feel lost. All of these factors are present in the 5 youth catcher’s mitt reviews that you’ve gone through. Just have a look, and you’ll see.

The second part of comfort consists of getting in the groove with your glove. Even the best catcher’s glove for youth can (and probably will) feel uncomfortable at first. You’re not used to it.

You don’t know how to get the most out of it. Not yet. But you’ll get there. So, just because a glove doesn’t feel *perfect* outright doesn’t mean it’s a bad glove. Give it some time. It’ll grow on you.

Price – Pay for Performance

The next major consideration is price. I’ve mentioned during the beginning of this article that the price range of youth catcher’s gloves can be *wild*. If I don’t ignore hundreds of other mitts and just look at the top-rated catcher’s mitts I’ve highlighted in this article, this is how the range looks –

• Franklin Sports Tee Ball Glove – around $17 and All-Star Pro-Advanced – around $200

So, this wide-ass gap can trip even the smartest and sleekest of buyers. You need to find your footing first to understand what dough you need to spend to get the maximum value.

Let me break it down here –

For ages 4-7:

You don’t need a dedicated catcher’s mitt YET. You can work with a utility glove. This age is perfect for learning the game, getting better with basics, trying to find your rhythm – that sort of stuff. So, a budget-friendly Rawlings Players T-Ball Glove or Franklin Sports Tee Ball Glove should do the trick.

For ages 7-10:

You’ve just entered Little League’s Minor League territory. Although Minors start from age 5, age 7 is when you really get into it. Now, you should think about getting a dedicated catcher’s glove.

I would suggest looking into the Rawlings R9 or Renegade (the alternative is Wilson A1000). Girls can try out the Mizuno Prospect GXC112. It would cost you around $60-$150, depending on the brand and model.

For ages 10-14:

You’re big boys now. So, welcome to the Major division. Even if you were getting by without a catcher’s mitt till now, this won’t be the case anymore. Tons of matches + tons of pressure = you need a top-rated youth catcher’s mitt that’ll work like your trusted sidekick.

I’d recommend trying out the All-Star Pro-Advanced or Rawlings Liberty Advanced (if you get the sizing right, that is). A more budget-friendly casual option would be the Rawlings Player Preferred (don’t forget the size). The expenses would be around $60-$200 (considering the Player Preferred cost-effective price point).

For ages 14+:

By now, if you’re still playing and going strong, you’re probably promoted to the Senior League. Although you’re still considered youth ballplayers because of your age, you don’t need the youth mitts anymore.

It’s time to bring out the big guns, aka the big boy mitts. It’s time to start saving for either the Wilson A2000 or the Rawlings Heart of the Hide. Now, you’re ready to don some of the best catcher’s mitts. Of course, you’d have to shell out something close to $300+ – expensive but worth every cent.

This little section is perhaps the most detailed + bite-sized breakdown and recommendation you’ll find all across the web. I categorized it by age and gave you an estimate of expenses. Then, if you combine it with your own preference and experience, consult the age-size-league reference chart I’ve posted on top, you should have a field day with getting a top-tier youth catcher’s mitt.

FAQ

I think I’ve covered everything there is to know about catcher’s mitts. However, I’ve still added a few common questions and answers just to make sure I don’t leave anything out.

Bringing the Curtains Down

Before I bid adieu, I’ll reiterate what I said at the very beginning of this article – choosing a youth catcher’s mitt can be harder than getting an adult catcher’s mitt. And I stand by this statement. It’s really easy to get lost in the midst of sweet-as-hell price points, flashy colors, brand names, and all that stuff.

That’s why you can see that I’ve given you tons of options and explained how and why each option is viable. Although the titles highlight one mitt, if you read carefully, you’ll find several suggestions under each banner. It’s important. Because I didn’t limit you or blindside you into favoring one mitt.

Anyways, getting your hands on the best youth catcher’s mitt is tough but not impossible. So, don’t let all the warnings get to your head. It’s a bumpy ride, but it’s not an end-of-the-world crisis. Just keep yourself focused, and don’t let flashy info distract you.

I’ll still give a bonus recommendation here – hopefully, it’ll help. So, if you’re looking for a tee-ball glove, you don’t need a dedicated mitt. Just go for a utility glove like the Rawlings Players or Franklin Tee Ball glove.

Your kid’s a bit older? They know the game? Play it often? Are falling in love with it? Maybe even thinking of going pro? Then get the Rawlings R9 or Rawlings Renegade. The Wilson A1000 or A700 can also be a good alternative.

Finally, if your champ is in the Senior League and needs a trusted compadre catcher’s mitt, go for the Rawlings Liberty Advanced (for softball). It’ll give them the boost they need. You got more cash to spare for a top-tier mitt for your kid? Try out the All-Star Pro-Advanced, Wilson A2000 SuperSkin, or Rawlings Heart of the Hide.

There you have it. A complete youth catcher’s mitt 101. So, get your youngsters all geared up – and witness as they become (or even surpass) the next Johnny Bench or Yogi Berra. Cheers!