Wilson A2403

As one of the most underrated positions in baseball, the catcher is one of the most important positions on the field. They are the only position player (ie. non-pitcher) to be involved in each and every play, but along with the action comes inherent danger. Having the proper equipment is of supreme importance to the catcher position, so check out this guide to make sure you have everything you need to be safe while catching.

Chest protector and shinguards

The first piece of equipment that stands out when you look at a catcher is the chest protector and shinguards. They serve to protect the catcher from any foul tips or wild pitches. It is important to make sure that both of these pieces of equipment fit well as loose fitting gear will create gaps where a speeding ball can squeeze by and gear that is too small will simply not provide sufficient cover. For shinguards, many catchers choose to add knee savers to make their constant crouch more comfortable.

Catchers glove

Another distinct piece of equipment you may notice is the catcher’s glove. Specifically make with extra padding and come in a claw-like shape to assist with funneling a pitch into the pocket of the mitt. In terms of recommendation, you cannot go wrong with the brown Wilson A2403, which is the primer catchers mitt of most popular glove brand in the U.S.

Masks and accessories

Catcher’s masks  are the most important piece of safety equipment for catchers as it protects your head from collisions from baseballs, bats, and in some cases, speeding base runners.  When looking into masks, make sure it stretches down to protect your neck as well. In terms of accessories, many catchers choose to tape their wrists with Nexcare athletic tape to protect their wrists from bouncing pitches.

When choosing catchers gear, make sure you cover all of your bases as a catcher who does not feel safe and confident in their equipment cannot fully play to their potential.