Wilson vs Rawlings Baseball Gloves | Which Brand Takes the Crown

Wilson and Rawlings are two names in the MLB professional scene that you just don’t look down on. Rawlings currently outfits roughly 55% of MLB position players, which is still the biggest share of gloves in the pro game.

Wilson isn’t far behind at around 34%, so it’s still the clear number two option out there. But frankly, I don’t put much stake in the statistics. To me, what feels good and fits better in my hands matters a lot more.

Wilson vs Rawlings Baseball Gloves, so which brand is better? Do you go with Rawlings, who is currently dominating the pro scene? Or is Wilson better? They are a close second here, after all.

Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove vs Rawlings PRO Preferred Baseball Gloves

If you want to go big in the game, then you should settle for nothing but the best. That’s precisely what you will get whether you go with the Wilson A2000 or the Rawlings Pro Preferred. Now, naturally, being the flagship model of both brands, these gloves are pricey.

The Wilson A2000 typically runs $270 to $350 depending on the pattern and size, while a standard Rawlings Pro Preferred sits right around $420 (custom builds can push past $499). Before I go into details about the two gloves, let me give you a chart for a quick overview.

Wilson vs Rawlings Pro Baseball Glove Overview

The Difference in Key Features

Glove Material and Construction

Truth be told, the most important part of a glove, apart from its fitting, is how it’s made and what material goes into it. So that’s where I’ll start when comparing these two top-tier baseball gloves. Since both the Wilson A2000 and Rawlings Pro Preferred are premium baseball gloves, the quality is genuinely good on both ends.

The Wilson A2000, for a start, features a Pro Stock leather shell that gives it a rugged yet comfortable texture. The current A2000 also comes with DriLex wrist lining, which keeps your hand dry and adds a soft feel against your skin, plus Wilson’s Comfort Pro fit around the wrist opening for a more locked-in feel.

Many infield and outfield versions of the A2000 come with a dimpled pattern in the leather at the palm and web area. This is meant to cut down on the spin rate of the ball as it travels, making it a little easier to track and secure. Other than that, the bold logos on the gloves give it a nice look.

As for the Rawlings Pro Preferred, the manufacturers went with full-grain Kip leather to give the glove a feel and look to die for. To help the glove hold its shape, it comes with thick wool padding on the inside, which also improves overall comfort.

Pittards sheepskin palm lining also wicks moisture from your hand, keeping it dry and comfy throughout the game. The glove also features pro-grade leather laces and padding on the thumb sleeve to boost performance and protection.

Age Group and Size Options

The Wilson A2000 is really only available for youth or adult players. Because of its larger size, a player 10 years old or younger will have a hard time handling it. So if you’re getting this as a gift for a kid who’s just getting into baseball, keep his age in mind.

The Rawlings Pro Preferred, on a similar note, suits the same age groups. With size options ranging from 11.5 to 34 inches, the Pro Preferred is built to fit most youth and adult players who want to get serious about the game.

So this shouldn’t be a major factor in your decision between the two brands. It really comes down to how much you’re willing to spend on your new baseball glove and which construction material you prefer.

Break-in Period

Both the Wilson A2000 and Rawlings Pro Preferred come slightly broken in from the factory. But you still need to put in most of the work yourself. In my experience, the A2000 takes a fair bit longer to break in than the Pro Preferred.

The Rawlings Pro Preferred takes only a couple of days of playing catch to break in properly. With the Wilson A2000, you’ll usually want a baseball mallet if you’re trying to break it in quickly before a game.

Price

Since both of these gloves are high-end, pro-level baseball gear, they’re pricey. But with the Wilson A2000, you’ll typically save $100 to $150 compared to a standard Rawlings Pro Preferred. The good news for Rawlings fans is that the Pro Preferred goes on sale often enough that the gap can shrink quite a bit.

So if you’re patient, you can land a pretty good deal on a brand-new Pro Preferred. The A2000’s price fluctuates too, so it’s worth keeping an eye on both if you want a more affordable route to a professional level of performance.

WILSON 2022 A1000 Baseball Glove vs Rawlings Player Preferred Baseball Glove (Best on a Budget)

While both the Wilson A2000 and Rawlings Pro Preferred are amazing gloves, they’re pretty expensive. And going for a high-end baseball glove as a casual player or a beginner isn’t exactly the brightest idea. If you’re just starting out, I’d recommend something a bit more affordable.

That’s where the Wilson A1000 and Rawlings Player Preferred come in. Both are budget versions of the flagship gloves I just talked about. And while they cost a fraction of what their pricier counterparts go for, they still bring a lot of the same build quality and performance.

Let me give you a quick overview of their general specs.

Wilson vs Rawlings Budget Baseball Glove Overview

The Differences in Key Features:

Glove Material and Construction

Though both the Wilson A1000 and Rawlings Player Preferred are budget gloves, I quite admire the quality they bring. It really shows you how far the technology has come. The materials in these gloves can hold their own in the right hands.

That said, both the A1000 and Player Preferred feature full-grain leather construction. That’s about where the similarities end though. For the rest of the build, the two brands go their own separate ways.

The Wilson A1000, for instance, uses Pedroia Fit technology, which in plain terms means the pinky and thumb sit closer together. This design helps the glove hold its shape better and feel more comfortable for younger players with smaller hands.

You’ll also find similar spin-control technology in the A1000 that shows up in the pricier A2000. DriLex wrist lining makes it comfortable for the player, and its thin heel pad design allows for a quicker break-in.

On the other hand, the Player Preferred uses the traditional fit that’s the norm for most baseball gloves. It also features Pro H webbing, which works well for infielders and outfielders alike, along with Zero Shock palm padding for extra protection against impact.

It also comes with an adjustable wrist wrap for a comfortable fit and arrives roughly 80 percent broken in.

Age Group and Size Options

The Wilson A1000 is built for youth players who don’t want to spend a ton on their first real glove. Sizes range from 11.5 inches up to 33 inches, which is a well-rounded range for players over roughly ten years old.

With the Rawlings Player Preferred, the smallest glove on offer is 12 inches, about half an inch longer than the smallest Wilson A1000. That’s not much on paper, but in practice, players under 12 tend to have a harder time handling it.

Of course, if you’ve got larger hands, that extra length won’t matter much. But it’s still worth checking the fitment chart and trying the glove on before you commit to one brand over the other.

Break-in Period

The good thing about budget baseball gloves is that they’re designed with the player’s time in mind. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy breaking in a fresh new baseball glove, but a casual player usually just wants to get out on the field as fast as possible.

Both the Wilson A1000 and Rawlings Player Preferred keep break-in time to a minimum so you can get to the field faster. They both come mostly broken in from the factory. In my experience, though, the Player Preferred breaks in noticeably faster than the A1000.

Price

While the Wilson A2000 was the better choice than the Rawlings Pro Preferred strictly on price, Rawlings actually makes the more affordable glove down in the budget range.

The Player Preferred costs around $85, which is still well under half of what you’d pay for a new Wilson A1000. With a budget of 150 dollars, the A1000 asks for a pretty significant investment, and depending on the pattern you want, it can push right past that ceiling.

What Glove is Better: Wilson vs Rawlings Baseball Gloves

As you can see, it really isn’t a question of which brand is better, but rather which one fits your needs. Both Wilson and Rawlings have a lot to offer, and while they differ in plenty of design choices, they share one thing in common: quality. If you want the full rundown across ten brands, my best baseball glove brands guide breaks it down further.

The quality of both the A1000 and the Player Preferred, despite being in the affordable range, is surprisingly good. So it’s genuinely tough for me to pick one over the other. But since the Player Preferred is a bit cheaper, it might be the more appealing pick if you’re on a tight budget.

On the top-tier side of things, I lean toward the Wilson A2000. Then again, I’ve always had a soft spot for it since it was my first real pro-level glove. The Rawlings Pro Preferred is every bit as good and, in some cases, even better. So go with whichever one fits your budget.

If you want to go even further up the ladder, I’ve also broken down how the Wilson A2000 stacks up against the A2K and how the Wilson A2K compares to the Rawlings Pro Preferred if you’re chasing the true top-of-the-line glove from either brand. And if you’re curious how Rawlings holds up against a third brand entirely, my Mizuno vs Rawlings baseball gloves comparison is worth a look too.

If you ask me, though, I’d always suggest starting with a cheaper option first. That’s assuming you’re a beginner who just wants to try out baseball. Then, once you get more serious about the sport, you can switch to something more befitting your station.

I hope this detailed comparison between the two giant brands, Wilson and Rawlings, helps you understand what each one brings to the table. You should now have a much easier time picking out a glove from either brand. Good luck!

Tyler Wells

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.