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14 replies

Choosing the right baseball glove for my son

S stevekMember
I have a question that I hope someone can help. My son plays high school baseball and plays 3rd base. He has been using a youth Easton 11.5 glove for the past 4 or 5 years, and he wants to buy a new glove. He recently ordered 2 Wilson A2000 gloves to try on--a A2000 1782BT T Web 11.5 glove and a A2000 1796B T Web 11.75 glove. Both gloves are very stiff so it is hard to even have a catch to see which is right. I have been told that a 3rd baseman should get a bigger pocket, so he was leaning toward the 11.75 glove, but I have watched him for years play with a small youth glove and it just seems so big. Will the larger glove help him scoop up the short hops at 3rd and reach the hard liners down 3rd? Also, if he does have to play some outfield later through high school, I was thinking that the larger 11.75 glove would be better?

Any guidance would be appreciated. My only concern is the he sometimes plays SS, and the smaller glove seems to be a magnet for balls hit right at him.

I am new to this forum, so thanks so much. Steve.
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K KmomNH100+ posts
Welcome SteveK - I've only been a member for a week or so, but the folks here are really knowledgeable, so I've been learning a lot.

My son is an RHP and 3rb baseman, who occassionally still does some work in the OF. He's needed a new glove for a while and after months of agonizing he finally chose the Rawlings PRODJ2. Its and 11.5 with the basketweave pocket and he loves it. He says the smaller size is great for playing 3rd because he's able to make the transitions quicker. He'll keep his old Mizuno for use in the outfield because its much bigger (12.5, I think). The Rawlings that he just got came in great condition for him to go ahead and play - minimal conditioning required. It may or may not be a good match for your son, but its one to consider. My son's so in love with this glove he's still walking around the house just smelling the leather.
Estone28Estone28100+ posts
It's all personal preference.

Having said that...I'll give you my opinion (preference). I dont like to see an infielder (exclusing 1st base, obviously) with a glove bigger than a 11.5...possibly an 11.75. Also, I dont recommend basket weave webbing for infielders, instead get a 1 piece, 2 piece, or an I.

As you mentioned most gloves are going to be too stiff to decide on one prior to break-in, so gut feeling is your best bet. If you want a good glove that is an 'easier//quicker' break-in, get a TPX Pro made of Japanese Muriashi Leather. It will break-in quicker...but also wear-out quicker.

my $.02
B BobbleheadDoll5,000+ posts
If you go on Rawlings web site they have a page were they show the size of gloves worn by each position. After that it is personal prference. Infielders usually have smaller pockets to transfer the ball quicker and out fielders longer pockets to snag the long ball over their head.
Wison should also have a page that catergorizes gloves suggested for each position. An infielder without really soft hands can struggle with a small pocket.
R Rsctt8310+ posts
My son would kill me if I even thought of picking a glove out for him. In my experience the higher the skill level of MIF the more picky they become with gloves. My son will look at three or four of the identical models and spend an hour choosing which one he likes best.

Trust me there is a huge difference between 11-11/2 and 11-3/4 adding to that there is a big difference between manufacturers/models of the same size glove.

I would not exceed 11 - 3/4" for 3B under any circumstances.

Let your son choose which glove.
T Texan1,000+ posts
I have seen one brand's 11-3/4" that was the same size as another's 11". Yet sometimes even within a given manufacturer, sometimes the difference is very difficult to discern.

And regarding Steve's comment that some OF play may come later, two gloves may be the best solution to that. One for 3B, a larger for OF.
Last edited by Texan
Y YHF100+ posts
The 11 3/4 is the traditional glove size for 3B. Scott Rolen uses a Mizuno 11 3/4. But Alex Rodriguez uses a Rawlings glove listed at 12" but in actuality is bigger than my 12 3/4 softball glove. It has to be the biggest 3B glove in the majors.

My son plays 3B and has a traditional 11 3/4 Pro Preferred which he's used just fine but the 11 3/4 pockets are pretty shallow (more shallow than most 11 1/2 gloves). He fiddled around with a 12 1/4 and found he could pick balls a little better and it had a deeper pocket so the ball seemed to be more secure in the glove. The big thing was that the bigger glove didn't seem to slow the transfer to the throwing hand so he's now using the 12 1/4 full time.

He can also use the 12 1/4 in the outfield which he couldn't do with the 11 3/4.

Jon
HeyBatterHeyBatter1,000+ posts
third baseman, especially in this metal bat era seem to be using bigger gloves. 11 3/4 or 12 seems to be the typical size (though I've seen some go to the 12 1/4"). My son has played 3rd (and short) and used a Mizuno Pro Model 11 3/4 and a Rawlings 12'' Heart of the hide playing third.

I think, you want to save the 11 1/2'' for the middle infield. A little extra glove helps at the hot corner with those metal bat rockets.
HeyBatterHeyBatter1,000+ posts
Here's a few models you might want to check out. If you go to the site BallGloves.com you can see photos of these (and many others). i've bought some gloves from these guys and found their prices competitive and service excellent.
For a 3rd baseman, I'd suggest checking out:

Mizuno model GMP5RG or GZP50RG
Wilson A20002087TB or A20001787BT
Rawlings PRO6HF or PRO1000HG or PRO10003T or PROS6HF or PROSI7IC(and other Rawlings 12" or 11 3/4" in their Heart of the Hide or Pro Preferred Lines)

Also is the Rawlings PROS22HRH - a 12 1/4 inch model, which along with the Mizuno's listed above, would be my 1st choices for a 3rd baseman.
Last edited by HeyBatter
Y YHF100+ posts
I like HeyBatter's recommendations but would caution you about a couple things...Mizuno gloves tend to run a touch smaller than Rawlings. A Mizuno 11 3/4 is slightly smaller than the Rawlings 11 3/4. Not necessarily a bad thing but something to be considered.

Also, the Rawlings PRO6HF and PROS6HF are labeled as 12 inch gloves but in reality are at least 12 3/4. This is the glove ARod uses and it is gigantic. I can't believe he misses anyting at 3B using that thing.

Jon

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