Baseball Glove Help

I would go 12, maybe even 12 1/2. Middle infield is the only place you would really need anything smaller and taller players generally don't play there. You can get away with a 12 in the outfield and you can get away with a 12 1/2 at third base. Both are fine for pitching. Best of luck to your son.

Given the fact he hasn't played its unlikly that infield is an option, so get the bigger glove, he can always use the bigger glove for softball when he gets older.

Yup, probably 12, maybe a bit bigger. Basket web - will hide the ball for P, will form a nice pocket for OF. Don't go too top-of-the-line where the leather is thick and requires a long break-in period. Something like Rawlings Gold Glove series that's good quality and can take a few years of daily HS play but will break in fairly quickly and he won't struggle with it early on. Typically, any glove in the $60 to $100 range will give you this mid grade of leather.

Honestly guys I'm going to suggest he goes the other direction with a mid size to smaller glove. The dad (or mom???) said he's going to try and play baseball this coming school year which leads me to believe he hasn't played before or a little bit. His skill development is probably lacking.

I say go with a smaller glove because this will help him develop more skills with his hands. Similar to the thinking the pancake gloves that you want to learn to use your hands instead of relying on a glove. I've seen younger players end up having the bigger gloves and rely on them instead of developing their skills.

We don't know how athletic he is so it's premature to assume he will be in the OF. He may be a great athlete that has never played baseball and if that's so he will probably pick up on IF drills quickly. But if he's not a decent athlete then he might be better suited for the OF. Using a mid size to smaller glove should help him move back and forth between the two without losing too much.

Once he ends up being a definite OF then he can go to the bigger gloves once he's developed those skills. Not saying you guys are wrong but if I get a kid like this in my program this is what I would do with him.

Hi Coach,
I agree a smaller glove would be better for developing hand skills but OP said son is tall and lanky and would likely play P or OF. Every (adult) glove I've seen under 12" was designed for IF or P/IF, usually with shallower pocket. He would likely suffer a bit with this in OF. Those hand skills you refer to are generally more IF oriented.
Maybe together, we've nailed it down for him - 12" ! Good tweener size with versatility if needed.
Of course, now he'll probably end up at 1B and need something entirely different.

LOL - that's a great point about being at first base and throwing this all out the window.

I agree that a smaller than 12 inch glove is an IF / P glove but I've seen guys - at the high school level - be very good in the OF with a smaller glove though. I'm not talking the Bush League All Stars that just don't know any better but guys on reputable teams. It's really a comfort issue too but I'm also going with the thought process of not pigeonholing him into a position until he actually gets on the field. I don't see the need in buying a bigger glove until he's a confirmed OF. But you're right that a 12 incher is probably the perfect tweener size.