US EditionSliding mitts are baseball's 'must-have,' even if at youth levels, they're all fashion, no function (copy)
- On May 3, 2025, Fernando Tatis Jr., a standout player for the Padres, slid feet-first into home plate during the ninth inning of a game in Pittsburgh, wearing a striking yellow sliding mitt on his left hand.
- Sliding mitts, padded gloves designed to protect hands during headfirst slides, have gained popularity among youth players despite many leagues banning such slides.
- Youth baseball shows increased participation since 2015, with over 2 million kids in Little League, and pressure to obtain trendy gear like sliding mitts fuels purchasing despite limited function.
- Parents describe sliding mitts as fashion-driven 'drip' with prices ranging from $40 to double that, while some coaches call them distractions, noting players fiddle with them and miss signs.
- Some professional players, including Andrew McCutchen who has never used sliding mitts, plan to limit their children's use despite the cultural trend, reflecting mixed views on their necessity.
121 Articles
121 Articles
You're Not Imagining a New(ish) Accessory on Baseball Fields
Andrew McCutchen hasn't had the conversation with his 7-year-old son, Steel, yet, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star knows it's probably coming at some point. Steel, who plays in a youth baseball league, will likely come home at one point and ask his five-time All-Star dad if he can have whatever...
Sliding mitts are baseball's 'must-have,' even if at youth levels, they're all fashion, no function (copy)
PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen hasn’t had the conversation with 7-year-old son Steel yet, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star knows it’s probably coming at some point.
The rise of sliding mitts shows youth baseball’s obsession with ‘drip’ over defense
Andrew McCutchen hasn’t had the conversation with his 7-year-old son Steel yet, but the Pittsburgh Pirates star knows it’s probably coming at some point. Steel, already playing in a youth baseball league, will probably come home at one point and ask his five-time All-Star father if he can have whatever hot item his teammates might be wearing during a given spring. McCutchen plans to accommodate Steel up to a point. The oldest of McCutchen’s four…
Associated Press News
Sliding mitts are baseball's 'must-have,' even if at youth levels, they're all fashion, no function
Baseball players from major leaguers to Little Leaguers are using sliding mitts as a form of self-expression, even if at some levels, they're not needed at all.
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