Best Softball Glove for 14U (2026): 8 Picks for 13 to 14 Year Olds

The best softball glove for a 14U player is a leather fastpitch glove sized by position: about 12 inches for infield and utility play, 12 to 12.5 inches with a closed web for pitchers, and 12.5 to 13 inches for outfielders. Our #1 pick is the Mizuno MVP Prime 12" (about $130), and the best value is the Wilson A700 12" (about $100).

At 14U, hands are close to adult size and positions are mostly settled, so the glove question changes from "what fits her age" to "what fits her position." That is also why 14U is the age to invest in a real leather glove: a 12" infield glove or a 13" outfield glove bought now is often the glove she carries into high school ball. Below: the size answer by position, eight verified fastpitch gloves, the full size chart by age and position, fastpitch vs slowpitch vs baseball, the pitcher glove color rule, and the mistakes to skip. Prices come from live listings and move often; treat them as approximate.

At 14U (ages 13 to 14), glove size depends on position: 11.75" to 12" for infield, 12" to 12.5" for pitchers, 12.5" to 13" for outfield. Glove size is measured from the heel to the top of the index finger, following the pocket.

If she plays two positions, size for the one she plays most, or keep two gloves (common at 14U travel ball: an infield glove plus an outfield glove). The full ladder is in our glove size chart.

The 12" ball is standard from 12U up in most leagues, so 14U sizes are close to high school and adult fastpitch sizes:

Mitts: first base mitts run 12" to 13" long; catcher's mitts are measured around the outside, about 33" to 34.5" for 14U and older players.

A 14U player needs a fastpitch glove. The three types look similar online but play very differently:

• Fastpitch gloves have a deep pocket for the 12" ball and a narrower hand opening and finger stalls built for fastpitch players, most of them girls and women. Every glove on this page is fastpitch.
• Slowpitch gloves are for adult rec leagues: usually 12.5" to 15", with a wide hand opening and an oversized pocket for slow, arcing balls. They are too big and too slow for fastpitch infield play, and often too loose on a 14 year old's hand.
• Baseball gloves have a shallower pocket for a 9" ball. A 12" softball does not seat in it. Some adult baseball gloves are close in length, but the pocket and hand opening are wrong for fastpitch.

If a listing says "softball" without "fastpitch," check whether it is a slowpitch glove before buying. Big sizes (13.5" and up) with no fastpitch label are almost always slowpitch.

1. Size to her main position using the table above.
2. Choose leather quality by use. Rec and school players: Rawlings Shut Out (about $75 to $79). Travel players: Wilson A700, Mizuno MVP Prime, Rawlings R9, Easton Ghost NX ($98 to $150). Save pro-grade ($200+) for high school varsity; see our high school guide.
3. Match the web to the job. Middle infield: open I or H web. Pitcher: closed web in a dark color. Outfield: closed, basket or H web. Utility: closed or H.
4. Plan the break-in. Leather needs a few weeks of catch before games. Buy in the off-season if you can, and condition it with a glove care kit.
5. Confirm the throwing hand. RHT is worn on the left hand; LHT on the right.

This trips up more 14U families than any other glove issue. Many fastpitch rulebooks, including USA Softball and high school (NFHS) rules, restrict pitchers from using a glove in the ball's colors, typically white, gray or optic yellow, the idea being that a glove in the ball's colors makes the pitch harder for the hitter to pick up. The exact wording, exceptions for logos and lacing, and enforcement differ by organization and change over time, and an umpire can make a pitcher switch gloves before she throws a pitch.

The safe approach: buy a pitcher's glove in a dark color (black, navy, brown, dark blue) with a closed web, like the all-black Rawlings R9 12", and check your league's current rulebook. Many popular fastpitch gloves, including several on this page, come in white or grey colorways that are fine for fielders but a problem in the circle.

If she already has a 12" infield glove or a 12.5" to 13" outfield glove at 14U, she may not need a bigger size for high school. The high school upgrade is about leather grade and position specialization:

• Varsity-bound players often move to pro-grade leather (Wilson A2000, Rawlings Heart of the Hide).
• Pitchers who were using a fielding glove move to a dedicated pitcher's pattern.
• Outfielders who were at 12.5" may go to 13".

Our best high school softball glove guide goes position by position. If your 14U player is still growing into adult sizes, the 12U guide has youth-fit options.

• One glove for every position. A 13" outfield glove at shortstop, or an 11.75" glove in center field, costs plays. Many 14U travel players carry two gloves.
• A white pitcher's glove. See the color rule above.
• Buying pro-grade leather in-season. A $250 glove needs weeks of break-in. Buy in the off-season.
• A slowpitch glove. Big "softball" gloves without a fastpitch label are usually slowpitch.
• Skipping care. A leather glove that gets wet and dries in a hot car cracks. Condition it once or twice a season.
• Using a fielding glove at catcher. At 14U pitching speeds, catchers need a real fastpitch catcher's mitt.