One of the reasons people hang onto their old, worn-out leather mitts instead of replacing them right away is the break-in process. If you have ever used a new catcher’s mitt, you already know how stiff it feels straight out of the box.
You need to soften it up properly before using it in a game, or things get uncomfortable fast. As a part-time catcher myself, I’ve had my fair share of trouble trying to break in a catcher’s mitt.
When I was a beginner, I tried experimenting instead of just playing catch with it, and that usually led to disastrous results. After years behind the plate, though, I know there are no real shortcuts here.
I’ll walk you through how to break in a catcher’s mitt the right way, so you don’t mess up or damage your new mitt like I did more times than I’d like to admit.
Note: The principle of breaking in a baseball glove and a softball catcher’s mitt is pretty much the same. So you don’t have to do anything drastically different here.
How Long It Takes to Break in a Catcher’s Mitt
There’s no single answer here, because the quality of the mitt matters a lot. Generally, the better the leather, the longer it takes to break in.
That’s because higher quality leather starts out stiffer, but once it’s broken in, it holds its shape and lasts longer than the cheaper stuff.
That’s why a casual player with a basic, inexpensive catcher’s mitt can usually start using it sooner than a serious player with a premium, expensive mitt.
In other words, going with the best catcher’s mitt on the market often means more waiting around for the break-in. There are four common types of leather used for catcher’s mitts. Here’s a rough idea of the break-in period for each.
Pigskin leather: Easy to break in, usually just a couple of hours to a day.
Synthetic leather: Takes a bit longer, but you can still have it game ready within a day or two.
Steerhide leather: Usually takes at least a couple months of regular use.
Full-grain (pro-stock) leather: This can take several months, and sometimes close to a year, depending on the quality of the mitt and how often you use it.
How You Hold the Mitt Matters Too
Before you even start playing catch, it helps to figure out how you’re going to hold the mitt while you break it in, since your grip affects how the pocket forms.
Most catchers use one of a few common grips. Straight up, where you put one finger in each finger slot, is the most natural feel, though it can flatten the pocket over time if you’re not careful. Two fingers in one slot (usually the pinkie or ring slot) gives you more squeezing strength and a deeper pocket, which a lot of catchers prefer once they get used to it.
Whichever grip you pick, stick with it through the whole break-in process. Switching back and forth is a good way to end up with a pocket that doesn’t match how you actually catch.
The Best Way to Break in a Catcher’s Mitt
Let me come right out and say it. The best way to break in a brand-new mitt is to just play catch. You don’t need to drive a car over it or throw it in the oven, no matter what someone on the internet tells you.
Simply play catch with it for a few hours a day, and when you’re done for the day, keep a ball or two in the pocket.
It’s not the flashiest method, and it does take time. But you won’t be damaging your new mitt by doing it this way. Foreign substances like oil, Vaseline, or shaving cream on a catcher’s mitt can weaken the leather over time, even if they seem to soften it up fast at first.
The good news is there are a few things you can do to speed up the process. Hitting a bullpen with a pitching machine any chance you get is one of the best ones. Set the machine to shoot balls at a decent velocity and catch them in the pocket of the mitt.
As you keep catching those balls, the mitt slowly molds to the shape of your hand. There’s another benefit here too: you’re working on your receiving skills at the same time. The more reps you get in the bullpen, the better you get at scooping up wild pitches and knuckleballs.
Between catches, it also helps to work the pocket by hand, pressing it into a natural curve with your fingers. Skip that step and you can end up with a flat, “pancake” mitt that pops balls out instead of holding onto them.
That covers the activities that break in your catcher’s mitt. But once you’re done playing with it for the day, you need to preserve the shape.
To do that, place two balls in the pocket of the mitt, then wrap a belt (or a couple of rubber bands) around it to hold the balls in place. That way, even if someone steps on it or sits on it in a bag, it won’t get misshaped.
If you play or coach fastpitch softball, the same approach works fine on a fastpitch catcher’s mitt. The leather is usually a bit softer to begin with, but the play-catch-and-store-it-right method still applies. If you’re not sure whether a baseball mitt can even be used for softball in the first place, I’ve covered that in a separate guide on using a baseball catcher’s mitt for fastpitch softball.
The Rumors and Don’ts of Breaking in a Catcher’s Mitt
I get worked up when I hear about the wild ideas floating around for breaking in a catcher’s mitt.
As a baseball fan and player, it’s genuinely frustrating to hear about someone ruining their mitt while trying to soften it up.
You should never experiment with your mitt when you’re trying to break it in. Here are a few things you should never do.
Soak It In Oil
Oil and similar substances can seep into the leather and weaken it over time. A catcher’s mitt isn’t built quite like a baseball glove, so using Vaseline or oil on it isn’t a great idea either. If you’re curious about the shaving cream trick some players swear by, I break down how (and whether) it actually works on leather in my guide to breaking in a glove with shaving cream, but I still wouldn’t use it on a mitt you plan to keep for years.
Use the Microwave or Oven
Using a microwave or oven to break in your leather mitt is a terrible idea. It can damage the leather, and if you’re not careful, it can damage your appliance too. Skip it entirely.
Drive Over It
Yes, you read that right. Some people claim running a car over their mitt helps break it in. That could not be further from the truth. You’ll damage the mitt and ruin its shape entirely, not soften it up.
Final Thoughts
Breaking in your new catcher’s mitt can be a hassle, sure, but there’s no real shortcut around it. I’ve had gloves that took up to six months before I trusted them in a game, and with mitts, it’s often even longer.
If you hate the waiting game and want a mitt that starts softer out of the box,
I’d suggest looking at something like the Rawlings Player Preferred for an adult mitt, or the Mizuno Prospect GXC105, which works well for younger catchers. If you’re shopping around more broadly, my full breakdown of the best youth catcher’s mitts covers a lot more options by age and size.
Hopefully, after reading this, you’ll be able to break in your catcher’s mitt without any trouble. Remember, patience is the key. Don’t rush it, and don’t experiment on it.
With 4 years of Division II experience, a .272 career batting average, .410 on-base percentage, and 7 home runs, I’m now in my fifth season. I’ve played baseball since age 3, alongside future MLB Draft picks, and I aim to pursue a career in baseball professionally, be it playing, coaching, or scouting.