Playing little league or youth baseball — or just having a throw with dad — is a rite of passage for many kids. Whether your child is just starting out or has already played a few seasons, the best kids baseball glove and toddler baseball gloves are those that are comfortable, durable, and flexible for all styles of play. Sure, different kids (and positions like catcher) need specific kinds of mitts, but the best youth baseball gloves are, above all else, forgiving enough to be used in nearly all scenarios.
Picking out a baseball glove for a five-year-old may seem easy (just buy what’s in the store, right?). But there’s a staggering amount of choices available. And the proper glove can make all the difference when it comes to scooping up a grounder or snagging a fly ball. Many T-ball or youth gloves are often designed to open and close more easily than a standard baseball glove, for instance. Some companies even going so far as to use patented technology to accomplish the goal.
The best kids baseball gloves for 4-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and above almost all come 100-percent broken-in, so kids can play from day one rather than spend a week oiling/staring at a belt-wrapped glove on the shelf. Most use a soft leather or leather-like material with extra palm padding to protect little hands. Finally, baseball gloves for kids under 10-years-old are generally sized between 9- and 11.5-inches although some even come with adjustable wrist cuffs to ensure the perfect fit.
To help narrow down the choices, though, we turned to Amazon ⏤ identifying the most highly reviewed t-ball and youth base/softball gloves and catchers mitts on the site. Here are the best kids baseball gloves to consider.
Best Baseball Gloves For Toddlers and Kids
This is the glove you get for your up and comer who's yearning to practice his or her catching and throwing skills. It's made in both right- and left-handed versions, and it's Amazon's bestseller. It's constructed with lightweight mesh for comfort and ease for young players just starting out. And Unlike other gloves, these don't need to be broken in, thanks to their RTP II construction.
What One Reviewer Said: “This is a good quality glove for my 6 year old. The material does not feel cheap, so I have plenty of confidence that it will last until He outgrows it in a few years. It is not being used gently either, we play catch a few times a week and uses it for his tee ball practices and games. I am very happy with this purchase.”
This a 10-inch mitt is made of EVA — that means, it's not leather — has an H-pattern webbing, and is designed for kids just hitting the baseball diamond for the first time. For some added flair, the glove is available in colors to match all 30 MLB teams, and with the team's logo emblazoned on the pocket.
What One Reviewer Said: “Best glove for a t-baller, hands down. It’s flexible and helps them learn to close down on the ball with ease. Our son is a natural player, but this glove really helped him excel! We are buying these gloves for the team now.”
Not far behind the Rawlings in terms of the number of reviews (a solid 4.5-stars from 255 commenters), Franklin Sports RTP gloves come ready to catch (no glove oil required) and feature an adjustable wrist closure to ensure the glove fits small hands comfortably. They also come in a wide-array of colors ⏤ including pink/gray, bright red, and orange/camo ⏤ and include a soft foam ball.
What One Reviewer Said: “Perfect for a first baseball set! Mitt is soft and pliable, so little hands can open and close it after a little use. The ball is soft-ish, but not a whiffle-type ball, and it is t-ball sized. Highly recommend!”
This adult-sized glove is ideal for more experienced players (and older players). The leather glove is pre-oiled to decrease player break-in times, has palm padding to absorb the impact of the ball, and a combination of pull straps and Velcro closures to customize the perfect fit.
What One Reviewer Said: “I purchased this Glove for my 10 yr old son. He is in his 2nd year of LL and needed a real glove going forward. We looked at, an scrutinized dozens of gloves before settling on this Rawlings. I’ve had my Rawlings for over 30yrs. and this glove meets the same quality and fit as my old one. I hope he has as many fond memories as i do using this glove. I would say regardless of the money this is one of the finest gloves for any age!”
- Power Close makes it easier for younger players to close the glove and catch the ball.
- V Flex Notch is designed to help initiate easy closure
- ParaShock palm pad absorbs the shock of repeated use, providing outstanding protection and ideal comfort
- 32.50" Catcher's mitt
- Youth transitional sized
- Power Close makes it easier for younger players to close the glove and catch the ball.
- ParaShock palm pad absorbs the shock of repeated use, providing outstanding protection and ideal comfort
- 32.50" Catcher's mitt
- Youth transitional sized
What One Reviewer Said: “Once again, Mizuno has not disappointed….This catcher’s mitt is a perfect size for my 9-year-old son. The size and weight are perfect. Tons of padding and it broke in very quickly after a little glove conditioning lotion and one round of hard-throwing. The very reasonable price only adds to the positives. If you have a young catcher who has graduated from using a normal glove but isn’t ready for a full-size mitt, this is the one to get.”
This baseball and softball glove is engineered specifically for slow pitch and recreational play. With it, players get a deep pocket, plus a nicely lightweight mesh back design. The glove has a cushioned palm and index fingers pads, and does not need to be broken in.
What One Reviewer Said: “This is not a cheapo glove, quite the opposite. This is a very nice leather mitt. It is a very well made glove and I would submit you won’t find another glove this well designed under about $90.00. Is it an Mlb caliber glove? No. Those are $300 on up. Can this glove handle minors to high school? Yep. No problem.”
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