Best Pitcher’s Gloves for 2023
When pitchers are deciding which glove to buy, their first consideration is webbing. A glove’s web type is extremely important for pitchers because they can’t have one that allows opposing players and coaches to peek into their gloves and see which pitch they’re going to throw. While this might sound far-fetched to some, it’s actually an extremely common practice in most collegiate and professional dugouts—and is also easier to do than you might imagine. Yet, while a closed web type is invaluable, it shouldn’t be the only aspect of a glove that a pitcher cares about. There are some other unique pros and cons that pitchers should at least be aware of prior to buying. Luckily, I spent fifteen years of my life as a pitcher, and am therefore privy to many of these pros and cons. And by the time you finish reading this article, you will be, too.
Rawlings Pro Preferred Baseball Glove
Rawlings’ Pro Preferred baseball glove is crafted from the finest, ultra-luxurious kip leather which offers superior quality and performance. Its camel speed shell back reduces weight and offers added style and durability. In addition, all Rawlings Pro Preferred gloves feature a super comfortable Pittards' sheepskin lining, wool wrist strap, and padded thumb sleeve for an unmatched feel every time you wear them. This gamer was also constructed in our popular 200-pattern, which offers a deep, wide pocket, and a modified trapeze web for extreme versatility. The Rawlings Pro Preferred 11.5-inch baseball glove is currently retailing for $379.95 and is available for a comparable price on SidelineSwap.
Our Expert’s Take:
I’ll admit it: I’m biased when it comes to Rawlings Pro Preferred pitcher’s gloves. I used a camel tan one for the final five years of my baseball career. In fact, it’s currently sitting one foot away from me as I’m writing this. This glove won’t take overly long to break in, and while the modified trapeze web might seem easy to peek through, it’s virtually impossible for opponents to get a clean enough to see which pitch is coming. I will say that, once you get to the game’s highest levels, you won’t see many pitchers with light-colored gloves. The reason for this is that some pitchers like to store pine tar inside their gloves, and the dark brown sticky substance is a dead giveaway on lighter-colored leather. But this is no issue for all the rule followers out there (I can’t count myself among you—hopefully, my former umpires aren’t reading this). Jokes aside, this is one of the best gloves that money can buy. You won’t be disappointed.
Wilson A2000 CK22 Baseball Glove
Wilson’s A2000 CK22 11.75-inch pitcher's glove features black Pro Stock leather and iconic traditional logos with a deep pocket and closed 2-Piece web, perfect for grip changes and pitch concealment. In addition, this glove boasts a DriLex wrist lining that will keep your hand comfortable on the mound. Three-time Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw knows what works—and that's why he's thrown nearly every pitch of his big league career with this exact glove. The Wilson A2000 CK22 baseball glove is currently retailing for $299.95, and can be found for as low as $245 on SidelineSwap.
Our Expert’s Take:
Again, I might be biased when it comes to this Wilson A2000 CK22 because I had an older version of this Clayton Kershaw Wilson glove when I was playing travel baseball over a decade ago. And, yes, I loved it. Wilson A2000 gloves are notorious for taking a long time to break in, although I don’t remember that being the case with my version. Regardless, once this glove gets broken in, you’re going to love it. Its closed 2-piece web is one of the best on the market in terms of averting opponents’ eyes, and something about this completely black colorway combined with electric yellow stitching has always been a personal favorite of mine. You can’t go wrong with Wilson gloves—especially not one that Clayton Kershaw swears by. Who would you rather replicate on the mound than him?
Marucci Ascension Baseball Glove
The Marucci Ascension baseball glove features premium, tight-grain steer hide shell leather that increases durability while reducing weight. This glove’s M Type fit system provides integrated thumb and pinky sleeves with enhanced thumb stall cushioning to maximize comfort and feel, includes a cushioned leather finger lining to provide superior comfort and fielding security, and also has a moisture-wicking mesh wrist lining with dual-density memory foam padding. This Marucci Ascension glove is 11.75 inches, comes with a modified trapeze web, and is currently retailing for $199.99. It can also be found at a less expensive price on SidelineSwap.
Our Expert’s Take:
Okay, I swear this is the last glove on this list that I’ve used before. I used a camel tan, modified trapeze webbed Marucci pitcher’s glove throughout high school. And while I believe this was before Marucci’s Ascension line officially started, the glove was essentially the exact same as this one. What I remember most about this glove is how quickly it broke in. After about a week of playing catch, it was game ready. In general, the Marucci Ascension is great for youth players who are just transitioning into high school baseball because it’s one of the smaller adult gloves you’ll find. If you’re looking for a camel tan, trapeze webbed pitcher’s glove but don’t want to break the bank for a Pro Preferred, then this Marucci Ascension glove is a great option.
Nokona Classic Walnut Series Baseball Glove
The Nokona Walnut Series baseball glove is made with the proprietary Walnut Crunch leather that’s a signature of Nokona, and handcrafted with top-grain steer hide for flexibility and dependability. Once this glove is broken in, you'll have a soft and supple design that remains sturdy for a very long time. With a game-ready feel and a stable shape, this baseball glove will withstand the test of time season after season. The Nokona Walnut Series outfield glove features an 11.5-inch pattern, and a modified trapeze web, and is the perfect choice for an elite pitcher. It is currently retailing for $400 but can be found for $339.99 on SidelineSwap.
Our Expert’s Take:
Although this Nokona Walnut Series glove is the first on this list that I’ve never used before, I’ve heard many good things. A few former teammates of mine swear by this glove and rave about its durability and comfortability—especially the latter since they said it’s the most comfortable glove they’ve ever worn. What’s more, this glove has the look and color of an old-school piece of leather, while still remaining top-notch in terms of its quality. Not to mention that it’s one of the most lightweight pitching gloves available, so if you’re looking for leather that won’t weigh you down on the mound then this Nokona Walnut Series glove is a worthy one.
Mizuno Pro Series Baseball Glove
Mizuno’s Pro Series baseball glove is made with US Kip leather tanned in Japan to give you a soft, yet firm feel that will form just the way you like it and hold up to the speed of the game. Designed by Mizuno’s finest master craftsmen, who eat, sleep, and breathe glove design and have dedicated their lives to the pursuit of the perfect pattern, this 11.5-inch Pro series glove was created from scanning hundreds of professional players' hands, so that each Mizuno Pro model is created with a perfect, already-formed pocket to suit every pitcher’s needs. This Mizuno Pro Series glove is currently retailing for $400 but can be found on SidelineSwap for around $330.00
Our Expert’s Take:
I’ve always been envious of pitchers who have this Mizuno Pro Series pitcher’s glove—mainly because its modified trapeze webbing is my favorite webbing of all time. Not only is it a unique and awesome look, but it’s an entirely closed web as well, which means that it’s impossible for opponents to pick your pitches inside this glove. Mizuno gloves do tend to arrive stiff, which means that it will take some time to get this glove game ready. But that stiffness only adds to its durability. This glove is another favorite among youth and high school baseball players, as it’s considered a fantastic glove to transition away from youth and into baseball’s higher levels due to its dependability. If I could go back in time and buy another glove during my career, I’d buy this Mizuno Pro Series pitcher’s glove.
Conclusion
As you can surely tell, I’m a sucker for pitcher’s gloves—especially those that I’ve used (and loved). And as I said before, while the web is important for any pitcher’s glove, it isn’t the only thing you need to consider. Besides—most glove companies realize that pitchers don’t want an open web, and don’t produce open-webbed pitcher’s gloves for that exact season. Which means you don’t need to worry about it! So choose a pitcher’s glove that you love. Perhaps you’ll be writing about it ten years from now, too.