Buying an infield baseball glove 2019 can be confusing like hell. There are literally a million different gloves on the market and of course everybody says, they have manufactured the best glove available.
Luckily there is me, who is going to help you choose the perfect glove for your needs.
Let’s first take a look at the position and what it is all about:
Infielders need to be quick to allow for double or even triple plays. The pocket is shallow because of that reason and the infield baseball gloves 2019 are smaller in general. It is all about speed for infield players. Infield gloves are not built for keeping the ball inside them. The idea is to stop the ball and then immediately pull it out the glove to throw it away as fast as possible.
So in short: Speed is a priority.
Let’s now take a look at how an infield glove should be built, to be suitable for this position:
Shallow pocket: A shallow pocket stops the ball abruptly and allows the player to grab the ball fast. Perfect conditions for an infielder!
Small gloves: Do not be surprised if you see 11.25” gloves in this test. Infield gloves are generally smaller, than other baseball gloves (for example the 13” first baseman baseball gloves). Smaller gloves equal more speed, which is the priority of infielders. Some adult gloves are even 10.5” in size.
Webbing does not matter too much: Generally the webbing plays a minor role for this kind of glove. This also explains, why there are so many possible options out there, that are suitable for an infielder.
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Lower end (up to $100)
These infield baseball gloves 2019 are the cheapest ones out there. If you consider playing baseball but you are not sure if it will turn into a life-long passion of yours (trust me, it will), these gloves are great, because of their cheap price point.
Apart from the cheap price point, these gloves have nearly nothing going for them. Most of the gloves in this category are not even special infield gloves, but utility gloves.
Mizuno Franchise 12″ Baseball Glove
Material: pre-oiled java leather
Webbing: Tartan web
Size: 12”
First things first: This glove is just a representative for a lot of different variations for the Mizuno Franchise baseball glove line suitable for infielders. Given that webbing does not really matter for this kind of glove and size is a personal preference (although smaller gloves are usually better for infield players), I decided to pick a random infield baseball glove 2019 here.
The Mizuno Franchise gloves are made from pre-oiled java leather. Java leather is actually a bonded leather, meaning it is made from cut offs of different leathers, which are then bonded together chemically. This explains the cheap price of the gloves, because they are basically made from waste which is glued together. The only good thing about this is, that it is game ready, which is a good thing for cheap beginner gloves.
Apart from this, Mizuno used a moisture-wicking lining on this glove, which is supposed to pull sweat away. This is pretty nice, as your hand will stay dry this way.
The open back on this glove allows for a lot of wrist mobility, which is a good thing as it increases speed, which is the priority for infield players.
Pros:
- game ready glove
- moisture-wicking lining
- cheap
Cons:
- cheapest leather available was used
- utility glove
Wilson A700 12″ Baseball Glove
Material: full-grain cowhide leather
Webbing: T-Web
Size: 12”
The Wilson A700 12” baseball glove is a special model of the infield baseball gloves 2019, which is also available in two other, smaller variations. Apart from the size and the webbing (which is not really relevant for infield players), everything else is the same.
The glove is made from full-grain leather, which is game-ready and requires little break-in. This is quite contradictory, as full-grain leather is normally really stiff in the beginning and needs a lot of breaking-in. This glove being game-ready means, that Wilson has probably used “unhealthy” methods in their factory to break-in this glove, which should be a warning sign!
The laces used are extremely durable and help the glove maintain the shape perfectly, even after a lot of games. This is great and not every model of the infield baseball gloves 2019 in this category is that durable.
Pros:
- strong laces
- cool colour
- no pre-oiled leather
Cons:
- durable leather is already broken-in in the factory
- not healthy for the leather
Rawlings Gamer XLE Series Baseball Glove 11.5″
Material: full-grain steerhide leather
Webbing: Pro I
Size: 11.5”
Made from full-grain steerhide leather, the Rawlings Gamer XLE Series baseball glove convinces with its narrow fit patter, which is made for smaller hands and increases speed a lot.
The palm area has been reinforced with a leather palm pad for improved shock absorption and the cowhide leather laces used add a lot of stability to this glove.
Moreover this glove just looks super cool in my opinion. It is not everyday that you see a grey, black and red glove on the field. Be ready for the audience to look at you all the time, if you decide to use this glove.
Sadly Rawlings also broke in this glove heavily in the factory, which gives it a 80/20 break-in rating. That means that the glove has been broken in to 80% by the company, while you as the player just have to break-in the remaining 20%. Generally I think it is a good thing if cheap gloves are game ready, but if higher quality and stiff leather is used, as it is the case here, a high break-in rating indicates unhealthy treatment of the leather.
Pros:
- looks really cool
- steerhide leather for durability
- extra padding in the palm and finger area
Cons:
- high quality leather has been mostly broken in already
- Just one size available
Mizuno MVP Prime 11.5″ Baseball Glove
Material: bio soft leather
Webbing: Tartan
Size: 11.5”
The Mizuno MVP Prime baseball glove comes in a variety of sizes with different webbings. This means that everybody should be able to pick a suitable glove from this range.
This specific model measures 11.5”. It is made from bio soft leather, which is not as durable as steerhide leather, but is much softer and does not require a lot of breaking-in. Moreover the feel this leather gives you is much nicer than the one of stiff steerhide leather.
The thumb and palm area have been additionally padded in order to deaden the impact when you catch a ball with this glove, while the professional grade laces increase the durability of this glove and help retain the shape for a long time.
The pocket of this glove is located under the index finger in order to allow for easy catches. The regular depth of the pocket makes it easy to transfer the ball to your throwing hand fast, so you are ready for some double or triple plays.
Pros:
- soft bio leather used
- different sizes, colors and webbings available
- good padding to avoid hand injuries
- professional grade laces
Cons:
- leather has been pre-oiled, which decreases the durability massively
Wilson A1000 PF88 11.25″ Baseball Glove
Material: full grain cowhide leather
Webbing: H-Web
Size: 11.25”
Again, there are three different gloves for the best infield baseball glove 2019 in this price category from the Wilson A1000 series. This specific one measures 11.25” and has the proprietary Pedroia Fit pattern, which suits smaller hands perfectly.
This glove is made from cowhide leather, which breaks in pretty fast but has worse durability than steerhide for example. In order to increase durability Wilson used rawhide laces to help the glove retain the shape for long periods of time.
To be honest I chose this specific model for this review, because I really love the look of it. Black with gold lining looks super high quality and the red stitching saying “Wilson” and “A1000” gives a cool finish in my opinion! If you are looking for a cheaper glove with dope looks, you should consider this one.
Pros:
- looks like a high quality glove
- rawhide laces increase durability
- Cowhide leather is used for faster break-in time
Cons:
- Cowhide is not the most durable option available
- the other variants of this glove look different
Middle class ( $200 to $250)
Personally this is my favorite category. The best infield baseball gloves 2019 in here are not professional grade ones, but are suitable for everybody who takes baseball seriously and wants to have a piece of equipment, that will perform under any circumstance.
Even though these gloves are not the high end ones, some still feature kip leather and professional grade laces. In general these gloves need quite some breaking-in, which will result in a glove that is perfectly molded to your hand.
See these gloves as a companion that will serve you for a lot of years, rather than just a piece of equipment.
Under Armour Genuine Pro 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: steerhide leather
Webbing: Modified Trapeze
Size: 11.75”
Under Armour is not necessarily know for baseball products, but more for sponsoring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. Nevertheless the Under Armour Genuine Pro 11.75″ baseball glove is definitely a great product.
This black and cream colored glove is made from steerhide leather for incredible durability. Combined with the leather palm lining, this glove will last you a long while, if you decide to make it your infield glove.
This glove is also the cheapest one in this category.
Pros:
- great price/quality ratio
- steerhide leather for great durability
- available in 11.5” or 11.75”
Cons:
- cream color will be dirty quickly
Mizuno Pro Select 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: top quality US steerhide leather
Webbing: Deep III
Size: 11.75”
The Mizuno Pro Select 11.75″ baseball glove was built especially for infielders and is not some kind of utility glove. It is made from top quality steerhide leather for incredibly durability and great feel, once you have broken in your glove. This explains, why it is on my list for the best infield baseball gloves 2019.
The old school look of this black glove with brown laces and cream colored lining is another nice feature of this glove.
Furthermore this infield baseball glove features a shallow pocket which allows for a quick and easy ball transfer once you have caught the ball.
Mizuno decided to build in extra padding in the thumb and index finger region for safety reasons, but also to make the fit more snug.
This glove is available in a variety of different sizes combined with different kinds of webbings. You have to decide which one you like best here.
Pros:
- durable leather used
- great old school look
- extra padding for safety and a snug fit
- shallow pocket for quick ball transfers
Cons:
- Error 404: Nothing negative to be found here
Rawlings Heart of the Hide Color Sync 3.0 315 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: top 5% available steerhide leather
Webbing: Pro I
Size: 11.75”
As usual with the Heart of the Hide line from Rawlings, this glove is manufactured from the top 5% of the steerhide leather available to Rawlings. This guarantees that these gloves are extremely durable but also offer great feel after they have been broken in.
The break-in rating for this glove is 40/60, meaning that 60% of the break-in is required to be done by the player.
This is a great thing as it ensures that the glove will really adapt and mold to your hand and needs.
This black and caramel colored glove features pro grade laces, which help it retain its shape longer and increase the durability of this glove even more. This is a great thing, if you spend that much money on a piece of equipment.
Rawlings furthermore made sure to use extra padding for the palm and finger area to increase comfort and give the glove a snug feel.
Pros:
- multiple different models are available
- very durable leather is used here
- glove needs to be broken in by the player mostly
- pro grade laces used to help the glove retain its shape longer
Cons:
- still searching for something negative
Wilson A2000 Jose Altuve Game Model 11.5″ Baseball Glove
Material: Pro Stock leather
Webbing: T-Web
Size: 11.5”
I guess if Jose Altuve likes this glove, it should be sufficient for the average player and it definitely belongs on this list of the best infield baseball gloves 2019.
This Wilson infield baseball glove is made from Pro Stock leather for great durability and strength. What is special about this glove is the dual welting, which increases stability and creates a durable and stable pocket.
Another clever move from Wilson was the usage of flat finger binding. This is much more comfortable than the usual, round binding and it also protects better. Great stuff!
The Dri-Lex moisture-wicking wrist lining keeps your hands dry by wicking away any sweat that appears on your hands.
Personally I also really like the look of this glove. The combination of a dark and light colored leather looks incredible and has a cool vibe.
Pros:
- high quality leather used for this glove
- dual welting increases stability
- cool looks
- flat binding for better comfort
Cons:
- This specific model is only available in one size
High end (starting at $300)
This is the crème de la crème when it comes to baseball gloves and the ones you see used by the most famous MLB players. Most of them are made from kip leather, which is the best leather available for baseball gloves. Kip leather offers a lot of durability, but a much nicer and softer feel than steerhide leather or cowhide leather for example.
Kip leather needs some time to be fully broken in (not nearly as much as steerhide leather though), but then it becomes super soft and will mold to your hand perfectly. You will most likely never want to let go of these gloves.
Mizuno Pro 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: Kip leather
Webbing: Deep III
Size: 11.75”
Actually the characteristics “Webbing” and “Size” do not matter with this glove. Why is that? Well there a lot of different models out there. I am not talking five or six models. I am talking 10+ different models. You can choose which size and webbing you want to sport. You can also choose the color, as there are black models and camel colored ones.
What all of them have in common is, that they are made from high quality kip leather for a durable glove, that offers a great feel.
The gloves also all feature a special palm pad, that is designed to dampen the impact of the ball when you catch it.
The open back on this glove allows for a lot of wrist action and enables a fast transition of the ball to the throwing hand. Get ready for some double or triple plays, if you get this glove.
Pros:
- two different colors available
- multitude of different sizes and webbings to choose from
- made from the best leather possible
- pre-formed, shallow pocket
Cons:
- not really sure if there is something negative…
Rawlings Pro Preferred 315 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: full grain kip leather
Webbing: Pro I
Size: 11.75”
Interestingly, there is only one Rawlings Pro Preferred 315 11.75″ baseball glove available. No other colors or sizes, just other Pro Preferred models.
The Rawlings Pro Preferred line is actually just the second best line that Rawlings offers. Nevertheless this glove is made from full grain kip leather for great feel and durability.
The palm area is padded with high quality wool, which softens the pocket while simultaneously helping to retain the pocket shape.
The lacing of this glove is manufactured from US rawhide leather. This might look like a bad decision, as steerhide leather is a lower quality leather than kip leather. I personally think otherwise. The lacing is supposed to help the glove retain its shape and keep all the different parts together. It is the best decision to use the most durable leather for this kind of job, so using steerhide leather is actually a great move from Rawlings.
Lastly, this glove is broken in from Rawlings to 30%. In my opinion that is a bit high for such a high quality glove, where the break-in process is supposed to mold the glove to the player’s hand.
Pros:
- Kip leather
- steerhide lacing for even better durability
- High quality wool as palm padding
Cons:
- just one colorway and one kind of webbing available
- already broken in to 30%
Wilson A2K Superskin 1786 11.5″ Baseball Glove
Material: high quality US steerhide leather
Webbing: H-web
Size: 11.5”
There are many different Wilson A2K models suitable for the infield position, so you can choose between many different webbings and sizes ranging from 11.5” to 12”.
This special glove is made from high quality steerhide leather and also features Wilson’s famous SuperSkin on the back, to decrease the weight of this glove and increase durability.
In order to provide even more stability and comfort, Wilson places a thin piece of leather between the palm liner and the outer shell. Moreover rolled dual welting is used to help the glove keep its shape for a longer period of time.
Pros:
- SuperSkin makes the glove lighter without sacrificing durability
- glove looks super cool
- Small leather piece between palm liner and outer shell for better comfort
Cons:
- no kip leather
- this specific glove is just available in one size and one colorway
Rawlings Gold Glove NP5 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: Premium kip leather
Webbing: I Web
Size: 11.75”
Rawlings Gold gloves are the epitome of quality baseball gloves. Crafted from the finest kip leather available and featuring 100% wool padding to help form the pocket, there is actually nearly nothing wrong with this glove.
Apart from the great leather choice, Rawlings built moisture wicking calfskin into the palm lining, to help the player’s hands stay dry. Durable US steerhide leather has been used for the laces, which adds a lot of strength and stability to the glove.
Moreover this glove features a flat and shallow pocket. This allows for fast plays, as the ball transition from the glove to the throwing hand is easy and fast.
Apart from the really cool look (black and gold looks super high quality for some reason in my opinion) Rawlings also stitches the individual serial number into this glove. This tells you when this glove was created. It will not make you a better player, but it is a really cool and thoughtful feature.
Maybe the only downside is the break-in rating. The glove has been broken in to 30% by the Rawlings factory. I would have preferred a 80/20 ratio here.
Pro:
- best leather used
- steerhide laces for increases stability and durability
- crazy cool looking glove
- 10% wool padding
Con:
- already 30% broken in
Mizuno Pro Limited Edition 11.75″ Baseball Glove
Material: Northern European kip leather
Webbing: Deep III
Size: 11.5”
First things first: This specific glove is just one representative for a multitude of different variations of this glove. You can get this kind of glove in brown or black, with all kinds of different webbings and from 11.5” to 12” in size. What is negative about this is, that some of these gloves are not necessarily built just for infield player, but are suitable for infield players, outfield players and pitchers. These are mostly the bigger sizes. If you look at the smaller sizes, most of the gloves are sadly just for right hand throwers. No idea why Mizuno did this, but if you prefer a smaller glove and you throw with your left hand, this glove is not for you.
All of the gloves have one thing in common: They are manufactured from high quality, northern European kip leather. As I have stressed before, kip leather is the best kind of leather for a baseball glove, as it is incredibly durable and at the same time gives the player a lot of feel.
What is really cool about this glove, is that you basically buy two gloves for the price of one. How is that? Mizuno offers a one-time free reconditioning. This restores your glove to its original condition and basically rejuvenates the glove. How cool is that?!
Pros:
- kip leather with tight fibers is used for great durability and feel
- different sizes and colors available
- get two gloves for the price of one with the one-time free Mizuno reconditioning
Cons:
- if you prefer smaller gloves and you are a left hand thrower, there is no glove for you
There you have it. This post should give you sufficient information to make a fact based decision on which infield glove is the right one for you.
Always remember: It is best to invest a bit more money into this piece of equipment, as it is basically a part of your body during the game.
Get home safe,
Jan