What You Need To Know When Choosing a Catcher’s Mitt

Catching is the most demanding position in diamond sports. As a catcher, it’s your responsibility to manage the pitchers, control the running game, communicate with the fielders, and be the coach’s main point of contact on the field. They have a unique role to play, and an even more unique mitt. This guide on how to choose a catcher’s mitt will explain why that is and what you need to know to choose one.

Glove Vs Mitt: What’s the Difference

Before we go too far into how to choose a catcher’s mitt, let’s look at the difference between the types of gloves and mitts. These words are often used interchangeably (even by myself), but they’re not the same thing.

“Glove” refers to any baseball or softball glove with individual fingers fixed together with leather lacing. This would be any glove used by the second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, outfielders, or pitcher. They have individual fingers that make these gloves a bit more flexible and easy to manipulate.

“Mitt” refers to baseball and softball gloves without individual fingers, where the shell of the glove is mostly solid, save for the thumb. This would refer to two players’ gloves on the field: the catcher and the first baseman. These players use these specially designed mitts because they’re sturdy and can take hard-thrown balls from pitchers and fielders over and over again while protecting the catcher’s or first baseman’s hands.

Catchers’ mitts are generally very durable, made from extremely thick leather, and feature extra padding to help protect the catcher’s hands from pitches they’re not able to catch in the pocket. Players that catch often need to use one of these special gloves, otherwise, they’ll hate the position.

What Catchers (and Their Mitts) Deal With

As a coach, my catchers are my favorite people. They’re the toughest players, blocking balls in the dirt, taking foul balls off the body, and dealing with the burning in their thighs and hamstrings. They’re also the hardest working, as the job is physically demanding but they’re also constantly aware of what everyone is or should be doing.

The job is also really tough on their mitt. They’re catching anywhere from 100 to 150 pitches per game, depending on the age and the number of innings they play. The pitcher is throwing these pitches at close to max effort, and they’re not always hitting the zone correctly. And, occasionally, signs get crossed up and the pitcher throws the wrong pitch. The mitt needs to handle all of this while protecting the catcher’s hand.

What Catchers Need from Their Mitts

Catchers mitts are critical for the job, so catchers have some pretty specific demands for them. Here’s what you need to know.

Size is a Factor

Catchers mitts don’t come in the same sizes as other players’ gloves. While the average fielder uses a glove between 11.5 to 12.5 inches, catchers’ mitts come in sizes between 30 inches and 35 inches. And because these gloves are so heavy, it’s important to choose the right size for the catcher’s age.

For youth catchers, look for mitts under 31 inches. Once the player matures and gets stronger, a 33-inch mitt is the sweet spot. For bigger catchers who can handle them, 33 inches and up will give them the best chance of blocking balls and protecting their hands. That said, there are plenty of professional catchers that use 33-inch mitts.

Specific Webs

There are only two options for a catcher regarding webs: two-piece closed and one-piece or solid closed. These webs are thick and durable, withstanding thousands of hard-thrown pitches. Two-piece webs provide more flexibility and are slightly easier to break in, but they feature more lacing, which is typically the weakest part of any mitt.

Heavy Duty Leather

Catching mitts need to be made from heavy-duty leather. They need to be durable, absorb impact, and be resistant to tearing and scraping while blocking or picking pitches. This requires thick, high-quality leather. Some brands might use other materials, such as high-end nylon products, which are also quite durable and can lessen the weight, but are only suitable for the back of the mitt.

Padding

Catchers’ mitts need heavy padding. The padding focuses around the palm, heel, and thumb, with additional padding around the fingertips. This allows the catcher to get “thumbed” (catching a ball on the thumb) without getting seriously injured. The padding also helps with retaining the ball in the pocket, as it closes over the ball and creates a lip that prevents the ball from escaping.

An Open Back

An open back is almost a must-have for catchers, as it allows them to put their index finger on the outside of the glove to prevent it from being “blown up.” Many mitts even have a finger pad on the outside of the mitt for extra protection. Mitts that don’t have an open back usually have a finger hole, but this forces the catcher to wear their glove traditionally rather than two in the pinky, which could be a deal breaker for some catchers.

So, who makes the best catchers mitts?

There are really three brands leading the way on catchers mitts: the standby brands of Rawlings and Wilson, and the catching-focused brand All-Star.

Rawlings Heart of the Hide and Pro-Preferred

Rawlings catchers mitt — Credit: Dicks Sporting Goods

Rawlings makes some of the best gloves on the market, and catcher’s mitts are no exception. There are two main premium lines, Heart of the Hide and Pro-Preferred, and the models in these lines are durable and long lasting. They’re made from durable, thick leather and are designed to take a beating. They’re also both available in customized designs.

Wilson A2000 and A2k

Wilson catchers mitt — Credit: Dicks Sporting Goods

Wilson is Rawling’s main competitor in the baseball glove space. It also has two main lines, A2000 and A2K. Both are extremely high quality with the A2K being slightly better. Both are available in customized designs, but the A2K line comes stock in some fairly interesting patterns and color combinations. A2K can also feature some lightweight materials like high-durability nylon to help lessen the weight.

All-Star

All-Star is a big deal in the catching equipment industry. It makes top-tier products, like catching gear, protective guards, and catcher’s mitts. They’re made from durable steerhide leather, and All-Star claims that they make a louder pop sound than competitors, which pitchers appreciated. Most also feature an adjustable wrist closure, which is a rare feature that some catchers might find helpful. They’re not customizable, which could be a downside for some, but they’re excellent quality.

What Pro Catchers Are Using

Model: Heart of the Hide PROSP13B

Web: Two-piece

Yadier Molina Catchers Mitt — Yadier Molina

How To Break In a Catcher’s Mitt

Once you’ve chosen the best catcher’s mitt, you’ll need to dedicate some time to breaking it in. Catcher’s mitts are designed to be extra tough, built with thick, durable leather to withstand high-impact pitches. This makes the break-in process more challenging than with other gloves, but with patience, you’ll get it game-ready. Here’s how to do it.

1. Decide How It Should Close

There are essentially two ways to close a glove, and you need to decide which is better. The single-hinge, flat break in is great for increasing the surface area presented by the catcher. It helps the pitcher see the glove and does provide more leather for blocking baseball. The box break-in uses two hinges and it’s excellent for securely catching the ball and retaining it during framing, tags, and catching pop-ups.

2. Decide How You’ll Wear It

Most catchers find the “two in the pinky” setup works best. This means placing your pinky and ring fingers together in the pinky stall, your middle finger in the ring finger stall, and your pointer finger in the middle finger stall. This configuration creates a snug fit, allowing the mitt to snap shut with ease and keeps the index finger away from the pocket to keep it from getting blown out. The other option is wearing it traditionally, but be sure to keep the index finger out of the glove for protection.

3. Break It In with a Mallet

Since catcher’s mitts are made with especially thick leather, using a glove mallet is essential for a good break-in. Start by pounding the pocket thoroughly, as this area needs to be softened the most to catch and hold the ball. Next, work the palm, heel, and outer edges of the mitt. Roll the mitt along its hinges to form the shape you need, focusing on building a natural curve in the mitt to improve closure. Breaking in a catcher’s mitt requires persistence, so don’t hesitate to put in some extra elbow grease.

4. Condition the Leather

Apply a high-quality glove conditioner to the mitt to soften it and protect the leather. Avoid glove oil, as it can make the mitt too heavy and greasy, which you don’t want when you’re trying to move quickly behind the plate. The conditioner helps keep the leather pliable and prevents cracking from dirt, sweat, and wear. Be generous with the application, especially if the mitt has been sitting in storage for a while.

5. Play Catch

Playing catch is an important part of breaking in any glove, but especially for a catcher’s mitt. Catching high-speed throws will help mold the pocket while allowing you to get used to the feel of the mitt and how it closes around the ball. With consistent use, the mitt will naturally start closing in a thumb-to-ring finger grip, which is ideal for catching pitches securely.

Find your hardest throwing friend, a bucket of balls, and catch a bullpen to get things started. You’re going to drop a lot of balls, so make sure you keep the bucket by your buddy so they don’t have to wait on you.

Additionally, try to practice catching fastballs and breaking pitches, as this will develop the mitt’s pocket and allow you to feel how it handles different ball types. Don’t worry if it feels stiff and hard to close at first—with regular use and practice, your mitt will soon be broken in and ready for the field.

Catcher’s Mitts FAQs

What mitts do MLB catchers use?

Most MLB catchers wear Rawlings Heart of the Hide or Pro-Preferred catchers mitts, but some also wear Wilson A2000s. Some also wear All-Star.

What glove does J.T. Realmuto use?

J.T. Realmuto wears a Rawlings Pro-Preferred catchers mitt.

What glove does Yadier Molina use?

Yadier Molina used a Rawlings Heart of the Hide PROYM4GB catchers mitt.

What size catcher’s mitt does a 14-year-old need?

Most 14-year-olds can start wearing larger catcher’s mitts. Look for a mitt between 32 inches and 34.5 inches. Larger doesn’t always mean better though, as they can make transferring the ball to the throwing hand more cumbersome.

Glove Vs Mitt: What’s the Difference

What Catchers (and Their Mitts) Deal With

What Catchers Need from Their Mitts

Size is a Factor

Specific Webs

Heavy Duty Leather

Padding

An Open Back

So, who makes the best catchers mitts?

Rawlings Heart of the Hide and Pro-Preferred

Wilson A2000 and A2k

All-Star

What Pro Catchers Are Using

Ivan Rodriguez (13x Gold Glover)

Yadier Molina (9x Gold Glover)

Cal Raleigh

Patrick Bailey

Jonah Heim

Gabriel Moreno

Jose Trevino

JT Realmuto

Joe Mauer

Salvador Perez