We are reader supported. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Also, as an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
In baseball, all gloves are not created equal. Glove types are designed to execute well for the position the player fills, and perhaps none of the various versions is more interesting than gloves for outfielders. Let’s take a look at why, and offer suggestions for the best outfielding gloves for 2023 and beyond.
Brand new baseball fans will not yet know the difference between gloves for outfielders, infielders, and pitchers, and especially the heavy and well-padded mitts for catchers. (We review catchers’ mitts separately, by the way).
Until you have fitted a glove on your hand, and played the position that glove was designed for, it’s almost impossible to select the best one. That’s where we come in. We have reviewed hundreds of outfielders’ gloves, and following are our top recommendations under a variety of categories.
Summary
- The Wilson A2000, as iconic as it is excellent in its performance, tops our list with extraordinary leather quality and details built for pros.
- For durability it’s hard to top the Rawlings Heart of the Hide baseball glove series; it’s also the lightest glove on our list which many outfielders really like.
- The Shoeless Joe Professional Series Single Bar Pocket Baseball Glove just looks like an old-school outfield mitt, with its elongated profile and antiqued leather.
- Not to overdo a known brand, we couldn’t resist the Rawlings Pro Preferred with its exceptional materials, design, and user ratings.
- The most comfortable baseball glove on our list is the Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series ~ no surprise considering the manufacturer’s past sports gear offerings.
- Once past the higher-end glove models, look closely at the Akadema ProSoft Baseball Glove, for a decent number of features for the savings.
- For the budget-conscious, or for the very new player, Franklin Sports Adult Pro Flex Hybrid Series Baseball Glove is our recommendation for various reasons.
Our Choices: Best Baseball Gloves for 2023
1. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball overall ~ Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove
Analysis
It’s hard to get buyer’s remorse with a Wilson A2000 Baseball Glove ~ for the outfield, or for any position really. Not only is the performance at the Major League Baseball level, but the model number on the outside shell of the glove also screams iconic and popular.
For outfield play, we really like this model for a lot of reasons, but a couple stands out. The leather is so very high quality that it’s very pliable without losing any durability. And the outfield length (12.75 inches) really spotlights well-designed pockets. It’s a joy catching baseballs with an A2000. (Note: Some variations are distinguished by numbers after the “A2000” in the model name. This model is the 1799, while the A2000 1787 is designed for infield play).
Specifications
- Weight: 1.63 lbs.
- Material: Pro Stock Leather
- Web: Dual post
- Special Feature: Rolled dual welting for a fast break-in
What We Like
- Well-established and -trusted brand, and model
- Leather almost unmatched in quality
- Double lacing at the base of the web ~ where laces can break from repeated hard contact with balls
2. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball for Durability ~ Rawlings Heart of the Hide
Analysis
There is so very much to like about the Rawlings Heart of the Hide Baseball Glove. Since we gave props for the leather in the model that tops this list, we would be remiss to not mention the very high quality of leather on the HoH. This model was designed to last, and the materials used show it. Rawlings has trademarked its Heart of the Hide leather and markets this glove’s “built to last” aim.
This model is specifically designed for outfield play, and it is also the lightest model on our list, coming in at a whopping 1 pound even! Its 12.75-inch length is solid for outfield play, and this model is available in an amazing number of styles and color combos. In short, it looks cool, too.
Specifications
- Weight: 1 lb.
- Material: Rawlings’ Heart of the Hide Leather
- Web: Pro H
- Break-In: 40% factory, 60% player
- Special Feature: Deer Tanned Cowhide Plus palm lining
What We Like
- Specially made model from MLB-worthy brand
- Fine details like the palm lining noted above, or the soft full-grain fingerback linings
- Pro-grade leather laces and padded thumb sleeve for strength and durability
3. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball for The Look ~ Shoeless Joe Professional Series Single Bar Pocket Baseball Glove
Analysis
There is so very much to like about the Rawlings Heart of the Hide Baseball Glove. Since we gave props for the leather in the model that tops this list, we would be remiss to not mention the very high quality of leather on the HoH. This model was designed to last, and the materials used show it. Rawlings has trademarked its Heart of the Hide leather and markets this glove’s “built to last” aim.
This model is specifically designed for outfield play, and it is also the lightest model on our list, coming in at a whopping 1 pound even! It’s 12.75-inch length is solid for outfield play, and this model is available in an amazing number of styles and color combos. In short, with its antique tobacco-tanned cowhide, it looks cool, too.
Specifications
- Weight: 1 lb.
- Material: Rawlings’ Heart of the Hide Leather
- Web: Pro H
- Break-In: 40% factory, 60% player
- Special Feature: Deer Tanned Cowhide Plus palm lining
What We Like
- Specially made model from MLB-worthy brand
- Fine details like the palm lining noted above, or the soft full-grain fingerback linings
- Pro-grade leather laces and padded thumb sleeve for strength and durability
4. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball for Materials Applied ~ Rawlings Pro Preferred Baseball Glove
Analysis
With the Rawlings PRO Preferred line of baseball gloves, the model name says it all. These are preferred by pro ballplayers, and as such come with the associated price tag. This baseball glove model makes our list for its features and performance; it also is an offering for those looking in the higher price range.
What is there to like? Start with the full-grain kip leather, which does a little breaking in right out of the factory but mostly helps mold the glove specifically to the player’s hand ~ and then maintain that shape. The high-quality leather means durability, and the added sheepskin palm lining pulls moisture away from the hands for better play, and from the glove for longevity.
Specifications
- Weight: 2 lbs.
- Length: 12.75 inches
- Material: Leather
- Web: Pro I
- Break-In: 30% factory, 70% player
- Special Feature: Pittards sheepskin palm lining
What We Like
- The pure comfort on the hand, from the high-quality leather and the sheepskin palm lining
- The palm lining wicks moisture away from the hand, important for outfield play where there is a lot of running
- Designed for break-in predominantly by player, which helps mold the glove to each unique hand and fingers
5. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball for Comfort ~ Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove
Analysis
The manufacturer is known to produce sports equipment that feels good to use, and the Mizuno MVP Prime Baseball Glove Series is no different. The company’s Bio Soft leather is something to behold, and touch. You can almost feel the perfect amount of oil in that super-soft leather ready for game play pretty much once it leaves the store.
The key to this model is Mizuno’s typical application of newfangled technology for baseball play. For instance, the PlusGrip thumb adds comfort to a key area inside the mitt. You’ll find similar features all over in this model, really a bridge between a starter glove, and the very upper-end mitts that the pros use.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.367 lbs.
- Length: 12.75 inches
- Material: Leather
- Web: Modified basket various configurations
- Special Feature: Professional-level quality of laces
What We Like
- Attention to thumb loop inside for comfort and stability
- About the softest leather you will find right off the rack
- Lightweight proper for outfield play
6. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball in the Mid-Range ~ Akadema ProSoft Baseball Glove
Analysis
Right behind the Mizuno model in the “tweener” stage of play ~ somewhere between ages 7-8 and professional level ~ is the Akadema ProSoft Baseball Glove. What we like the very most about the ProSoft is that it is designed specifically for outfielders to use.
That it’s even lighter than the Mizuno model above says much about the maker’s intent. The company wanted to deliver a glove that would be nimble to have on a hand during full sprints; yet comfortable enough to softly cradle fly balls as they landed. Not a top-of-the-line glove, but we like to offer variety in price ranges. Note: this model is known for its popularity with softball play.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.35 lbs.
- Length: 13 inches
- Material: Leather
- Web: H web
- Break-in: Game-ready
- Special Feature: Very soft leather
What We Like
- Relatively low price vs. comparable models
- Open back and deep pocket
- That it comes with 13-inch option for fans of bigger OF gloves
7. Best Outfield Glove for Baseball on a Budget ~ Franklin Sports Adult Pro Flex Hybrid Series Baseball Glove
Analysis
Anyone familiar with our reviews of baseball gloves knew a Franklin model would be included. Here, we like the affordability for the quality you get with the Franklin Sports Adult Pro Flex Hybrid Series Baseball Glove.
For well under the cost of the other models on this list, you get a glove with above-average ratings by users ~ and a lot of them, which indicates word-of-mouth sales and longevity in the market. This model has been produced since 2004 and is a mainstay in the Franklin lineup, with its all-cowhide palm protected by the plastic outer shelling.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.1 lbs.
- Length: 12.5 inches
- Material: Full-grain leather, with synthetic lining and PVC hybrid exterior
- Web: Solid weave
- Break-in: Game-ready
- Special Feature: PVC hybrid shell for serious durability
What We Like
- Affordability
- 90-day limited warranty
- Contoured and adjustable wrist area for comfort
What to Look for with Baseball Outfielders’ Gloves
Size
Size for baseball gloves means length from the bottom of the hand’s heel to the tip of the index finger; and the typical size of a baseball outfielder’s glove is 12.75 inches. Some baseball players can get away with playing with models of 13 inches (or more!), but typically those are designed for softball play. Younger outfielders can use gloves at 11 to 12.5 inches depending on their age and physical size.
This is the space between the index finger and thumb, and sometimes stretching down to the heel of the hand. The deeper the better for outfield gloves, so they can be the place where base hits go to die. Outfield gloves are designed mainly to catch balls, and not for transfer from the glove to the throwin3 hand. (That’s how smaller infielder gloves are designed, to help speed up the transfer for throws to nab runners in action).
Weight
For adult play, outfielders gloves should not exceed 2 lbs.
Leather
You almost don’t even have to look at product details to figure out how high of quality the leather is. The price tag will indicate it. Softer is usually better, as very thick or dried out lesser-quality leather can be hard to break in correctly, and even after that, sometimes they do not end up shaped correctly.
See Also:
How Fast Do MLB Outfielders Throw?
5 Best Baseball Cleats for Ankle Support
5 Reasons Why Baseball Players Have Beards Now
8 Best Chairs for Baseball Parents
