Youth Gloves for Kids and Small hands

We know that finding the most suitable gloves for kids 3 to 10 years of age could be overwhelming as the market is flooded with products claiming to be the best.

To help you with this, we have compiled a list of the best baseball gloves for youth; mentioned their specs, pros and cons, a detailed description, and made a comparison chart at the end!

Read the article carefully, and decide which glove matches your budget, preferred size, quality, and performance.

08 Best Youth Baseball Gloves 2023

Gloves

Pocket Size

Durability

Material

Palm

Total Score (40)

8

09

09

09

35

08

09

09

08

34

08

08

09

08

33

08

08

08

08

32

07

08

08

08

31

07

08

08

07

30

07

08

08

07

30

07

09

07

07

29

Nokona Alpha Select S-200


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Buffalo and Stampede
Web pattern: Trap Web (Modified)
Year: 2019
Weight:
475g
Age range:
Youth

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Perfectly fits on the hand
+ Highly durable
+ Lightweight
+ Comfortable

REASONS TO AVOID

- Highly expensive
- Tough break-in


The Nokona Alpha Select S-200 Youth glove is the best option for youth athletes. The glove fits the infielders perfectly; however, the outfielders would need a bigger glove.

Moreover, this glove is made of the finest material; i.e., American buffalo casing and grain steer hide, making it extremely durable, and it continues to perform brilliantly for a long time without any notable wear and tear.

Also, the glove has Nolera padding, giving it an even lighter feeling. So, the kids can easily deliver their best game performance with this glove in the youth leagues without any unease or discomfort.

Moreover, it does not cause any sting to the palm or wrist of the kids even during hours and hours of practice. This extremely comfortable experience keeps little fielders hooked to the Nokana Select S-200.

However, the glove costs a high amount which many players with a limited budget will find unjustified. So, they tend to go for cheaper alternatives with equivalent performance, longevity, and quality, such as Rawlings Gamer Series Youth Pro Glove which is one of the best youth gloves as well.

Also, the American buffalo material is hard to break in, so it needs considerable time and tough practice to prepare the glove for the game which many players do not like. So, they prefer choosing a glove which is broken in from the factory and they can directly carry it to the game.

Also Check - Best Youth Baseball Bats


Rawlings Select Pro Lite


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Soft leather shell with palm lining
Web pattern: Various patterns
Year: 2020
Color:
Aaron Judge Model

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Needs only a 10 % break-in
+ Costs reasonable
+ Ideal for outfielding
+ Feels comfortable and soft
Comfortable and well-fitting glove

REASONS TO AVOID

- Questionable durability


The Rawlings Select Pro Lite Youth baseball glove is an amazing baseball glove that excites youth players with its efficient performance in the game.

It comes 90 % broken in from the factory, and you need to work on the remaining 10 % only to do wonders with it in the game. So, breaking this glove is easy and requires a little time. Also, you get the liberty of transforming it into your desired form and shape.

Also, the cost of this glove is not worrying; every player can easily afford it without burdening the budget. Anyone who likes it is able to buy it.

This glove is ideal for outfielders though it also works brilliantly for infielders and pitchers. So, if you are an outfielder, you must not miss out on it for a flawless performance.

Most importantly, the Select Pro Lite baseball glove is extremely comfortable and soft. The palm lining and all-leather shell offer a smooth and soft feel and reduce the shock, making it a great choice for young fielders. So, the glove protects from the bad impact of rigorous fielding practice.

However, the longevity of the Select Pro is bad news. So, it does not last season after season to deliver an efficient performance on the field. So, the rapid decline in performance and appearance makes players choose some durable alternatives, such as the R9 Pro Taper glove.


Franklin Sports RTP Teeball Glove & Ball


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Synthetic (Polyvinyl Chloride)
Web pattern: H-web design
Year: 2015
Color:
Red

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Stylish design
+ Break-in not needed
+ Extremely lightweight
+ Costs a little amount
Great for tee training

REASONS TO AVOID

- The material is not impressive
- Only for small hands


The Franklin Sports RTP T-ball Glove & Ball is a great deal for your young kids. It is an amazing first glove for your child who wants to develop throwing and catching skills.

The first lovable thing you notice about this bat is its extremely stylish design and outlook. The glove is made of bright red color with a catchy design that grabs the attention of the young players from afar. So, they love putting this glove on their hands. Due to its unique and stylish design, it makes an awesome gift for Christmas, birthdays, etc.

Also, this glove is made of polyvinyl chloride, which is a highly soft, smooth, and comfortable synthetic material. So, no break-in time is required, and the glove comes game-ready out of the wrapper. So, you can take it to the ground without putting effort to get it broken in.

Moreover, this glove's ridiculously low price is the most interesting thing. Can you imagine a glove under 20 USD? Well, that’s the reason we have mentioned it here.

This extremely affordable cost of this glove makes it an accessible choice for everyone.

However, we got bad news about certain features of this glove too. Unlike many other gloves in the market, and many in the list above, this Franklin glove is not made of leather. As the synthetic material of the glove does not impress the kids, they don’t like playing with it.

Also, the glove suits only small hands well and does not perform effectively for bigger hands. So, they have to switch to other options.


Rawlings Gamer Series Youth Pro


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Full grain leather shell
Web pattern: Pro H web
Year: 2017
Color:
Black

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Fits on the hand perfectly
Perfect catcher’s glove
+ Costs reasonable
+ Strong and durable
+ Available for various positions

REASONS TO AVOID

- Tough break-in


The Rawlings Gamer Series Youth Pro Glove is the best catcher’s glove. Also, it offers low finger stalls and a little hand opening, giving it a stylish look and making it fit the hands perfectly. Due to a secure and comfortable fit, the fielders hone their skills without any miss.

Another lovable feature of this glove is its reasonable cost. So, you do not need to worry about buying it even if you have a limited budget. So, the catchers love it for its great quality and affordability.

This glove costs way less than the Nokana Alpha Select S-200 youth glove, but it cannot match the quality and performance of Nokana. So, if efficient performance is your priority, you should not mind spending more for it.

Also, this glove performs great at various positions such as catcher, pitcher, outfielder, and infielder. So, this glove offers the versatility of the game which many avid players love. As they find multiple benefits in one product, it saves them the effort of finding separate gloves.

However, the tough leather construction of this glove renders it hard to break in. So, you need to spend fine effort and time to get the glove broken in, only then you can carry it to the field. Many players dislike it, and go for game-ready alternatives to save time and effort.


Rawlings Players Series T-ball Glove


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Soft and pliable shell (Synthetic)
Year: 2020
Web pattern:
Basket
Color:
Multiple options available

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Has a soft and comfortable feel
+ Works great for beginners
+ Available in various sizes
+ Comes game-ready
+ Costs affordable price

REASONS TO AVOID

- Works great for T-ball only
- Cannot be transformed into a desirable shape


If you want a high-performing quality glove for playing T-ball, the Players Series Youth T-ball Glove is the most suitable choice.

It is made of soft and pliable synthetic material which gives it a smooth finish, and you can play with this glove without discomfort to your wrist or palm.

Also, this glove would work great for you if you are a beginner looking to establish your T-ball fielding skills.

This Players Series glove is available in many different sizes, and you can choose the one according to your kid’s age.

Moreover, this glove is factory broken in, and you can carry it to the field as a game-ready glove. You don’t need to condition the glove beforehand.

Another exciting feature of this glove is its reasonable price tag. The glove does not cost you huge like Nokona Select S-200, and you can buy it for your child without a second thought.

However, there are certain issues with this glove series too. First, the glove performs brilliantly only for the T-ball; otherwise, you cannot expect it to be great enough.

Then, the glove comes game-ready out of the box, and you do not get to break it in. So, you cannot transform it into your desirable form and shape.


Rawlings R9 Baseball Youth Pro Taper


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Full grain leather
Web pattern: Trap-Eze web
Year: 2022
Color: Tan/Black

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Soft and comfortable
+ Has high longevity
+ Good for every position
+ Comes game-ready

REASONS TO AVOID

- Does not stand rigorous use


The R9 Baseball Youth Pro Taper Baseball glove is yet another addition to Rawling’s sportswear family.

This full-grain leather glove gives smaller hands a likable feel and great control. Also, the padded thumb and reinforced palm add to the comfort during the game. This comfortable and smooth feel leads to an impeccable performance on the field.

Moreover, the glove is highly durable and lasts season after season to deliver an impeccable performance on the field just like the Gamer baseball glove Series.

This glove is available for almost every position and every size. It works equally great for catchers, pitchers, outfielders, and infielders. So, the inclusivity of this product makes it stand out among its competitors.

Another appealing thing about this glove is that it comes game-ready out of the box and you don’t need to try to break it in before wearing it to a game. So, people prefer it over the ones which need some breaking in to get them game-ready.

However, there is one thing about the glove that hardcore players might not like much. As this glove is soft and smooth in construction to suit smaller, growing players, it does not stand hardcore usage. So, it offers nothing to the elite players looking for a tough option.


Wilson A500 Youth Baseball Glove


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Pig skin leather shell
Web pattern: H-web pattern
Year: 2022
Color:
Black/Beige

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Extremely light in weight
+ Great for little hands
+ Good for various positions
+ Breaks-in faster
+ Costs a reasonable amount of money

REASONS TO AVOID

- Has thin leather
- Not much comfortable on the hand


The Wilson A5000 Baseball Glove is the most popular glove by Wilson. It is an extremely lightweight glove that perfectly fits the small, growing hands of kids under 7. Its lightweight profile makes the fielding experience for young athletes highly comfortable and effortless.

This glove works amazingly for infielders but also for outfielders and midfielders. So, if you are an infielder, we recommend you must go for it as it gives a ridiculously amazing performance on the field.

Unlike the Nokana Alpha Select S-200, this all-leather glove costs affordable, and you don’t need to worry about the budget before buying it. So, you can buy it even with a limited budget and get the most out of the game for your little ones.

However, certain issues with the glove must be fixed to make it the hottest choice in town. The glove is not cushioned properly, the leather seems thin, and it cannot effectively protect the palm and wrist during fielding practice.

Unfortunately, the feel of the Wilson A500 fails to impress in terms of giving a smooth and comfortable experience. It has a slightly hard palm for the little athletes, who don’t find the glove comfortable. However, the big players with bigger hands find it to be a great fit for a hardcore game.


Mizuno Prospect PowerClose Youth


SPECIFICATIONS

Material: Leather (Pig skin)
Web pattern: Fully laced, fully closed, basket
Age range: Youth
Color:
Black

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REASONS TO BUY

+ Great for beginners
+ Available for various positions
+ Feels highly comfortable
+ Costs a reasonable amount

REASONS TO AVOID

- Too soft


The Mizuno Youth Prospect Ball Glove is an ideal glove for beginners. It performs ideally for beginners who just want to launch their fielding practice.

Also, another lovable feature about this Mizuno Prospect is its versatility on the field. This glove is available for various positions. Catchers, pitchers, infielders, and outfielders love this glove alike. So, it gives an opportunity to beginners to launch their game in multiple skills.

This glove is built especially for young kids and is highly comfortable and smooth. Little players can practice their fielding skills with this glove for hours and hours without getting any discomfort.

Moreover, the Mizuno Youth Prospect Ball Glove costs an affordable price. So, you can buy this glove for your little players without worrying about the budget.

However, this glove got some complaints about it being too soft and not flexing in the right direction. Also, it doesn’t open up properly to catch a ball which marks a flawed performance.

So, team players do not find this glove useful enough as they cannot compromise on performance in the game.


Final Thoughts

Now, you have read the detailed and in-depth reviews of the 8 best youth baseball gloves for fielding practice. The information carried out in this article brings you the discerning to choose the most favorable glove for your child.

However, if you are still confused about the product you should buy, we are still here to guide you further.

Nokona Alpha Select S-200 is a great choice if you want the best overall youth glove. From performance to quality, and from longevity to comfort, the glove offers everything one could ask for! However, this Nokona glove is a highly expensive product inaccessible to many.

So, you can go for some dope of Nokona Select, but at a cheaper cost. We suggest you buy Rawlings R9 Series or the Rawlings Gamers Series glove. These gloves are among the most amazing products from the Rawlings factory and do not cost as much as the Nokona S-200.

You could choose either Franklin RTP or the Rawlings Players series for T-ball. Both perform brilliantly, and Franklin RTP comes with a ball too. It serves as a great gift too!

If you are looking for the most suitable glove for your child who is just beginning his fielding practice, you should choose Mizuno Youth Prospect.

Also Check: Best Baseball Gloves for Adults

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a glove the best youth baseball glove?

The best youth baseball gloves are specifically designed for young players who are just starting out in baseball. They are typically smaller in size with a shallow pocket and lightweight construction to better fit their smaller hands and provide easier control while catching and throwing the ball. Additionally, durability is an important factor to ensure the glove can withstand the rigors of the game.

How do I determine the right size glove for my 8-year-old?

To determine the right size for your 8-year-old, measure the distance from the base of their palm to the tip of their index finger. This measurement is usually between 9 and 11.5 inches for youth players. You can refer to a sizing chart provided by the manufacturer to find the best glove size that matches your child's hand measurement.

Which brand offers the best youth baseball gloves?

Rawlings is one of the most popular and reliable brands when it comes to youth baseball gloves. They have a wide range of glove series designed specifically for youth, such as the Rawlings Players Series and Rawlings R9 Series. Mizuno and Wilson also offer great quality and durable gloves for youth players.

Are there any specific features I should look for in a baseball glove for youth?

Yes, when choosing a youth baseball glove, look for features such as a deep pocket or a deeper pocket design for easier ball retention, webbing that provides good flexibility and control, lightweight construction for young players, and a glove made from durable materials like leather or synthetic leather. These features contribute to better overall performance on the field.

How important is to break-in a youth glove?

Break-in is important for a youth glove as it helps it form the player's hand and become more comfortable to use. However, it's a good idea to look for a glove that requires minimal break-in time, especially for young players who may not have enough patience or the strength to go through a lengthy break-in process. Gloves that are made with factory break-in or pre-conditioned leather options can be a great choice as they are more game-ready right out of the box.

How to look after your leather baseball glove?

To look after your leather baseball glove, it is important to take care of it regularly. Use a leather conditioner to keep your gloves soft and prevent cracks. Avoid exposing it to excessive moisture or heat, as it can damage the leather. To keep the quality of your best youth baseball glove. After each use, wipe off any dirt or debris with a damp cloth and allow it to air dry. Store them in a cool, dry place to maintain its shape and durability.

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