There are a bunch of league-wide commemorative days throughout every regular season and Jackie Robinson Day truly is a special one. Nike Diamond sent their athletes pairs of the Nike Air Max ’86 and the Alpha Huarache Elite 4 cleats, plus matching accessories, as shown here by Druw Jones in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization.   The sneakers absolutely flew on the SNKRS app – apparently the stock seemed pretty low! – but the cleats are available at DICK’S Sporting Goods right now. I did not even know they were dropping, so I was happy to grab – especially for $99.99 flat and as a gu ..read more

At first glance, Mets’ left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea’s glove is a simple one – a basket web in his team colors of blue and orange. It isn’t something that necessarily has dozens of outlets on social media buzzing. But, if you’re reading this, you aren’t one that just settles for what the mainstream blogs are putting out. You’re here because you are absolutely obsessed with every last detail on Big Leaguers’ gear, just like me. And you clicked because you agree: Sean Manaea’s glove does, indeed, deserve a closer look. Click to view slideshow. Let’s start with the model. The PRO-302 has histor ..read more

Bruce Bolt batting gloves have been majorly popular amongst the younger guns in the sport. Their Major League presence continues to grow, as we discussed here. I grabbed a pair of long cuff batting gloves from their Chrome Series via DICK’S Sporting Goods and used them pretty extensively in the cage for approximately a month. Here were my thoughts through the lenses of fit, feel, and durability: View this post on Instagram A post shared by What Pros Wear (@whatproswear) The fit was definitely true to size, which is always nice when things check out according to expectation because someti ..read more

There is truly nothing like a brand new bat fresh out of the wrapper. Just over a month ago, I picked up this Dove Tail Bat ProSelect Pete Alonso model in yellow birch from DICK’S Sporting Goods. DTB’s usage in the Big Leagues has been growing quite a bit in recent years, so I thought it was time to give it a try. View this post on Instagram A post shared by What Pros Wear (@whatproswear) During those first few rounds, this thing felt like a total log. But quickly after getting used to it, the barrel just catches everything. The little ‘Polar Pete’ JRS Decal on the knob was a pretty dop ..read more

Wilson sought to develop a technology that would reduce the spin of batted balls and allow for improved handling and, in 2018, they landed on Spin Control. This very insightful article here cited a glove with “this dimpled pattern” during their research journey, and my guess as to what was brought in was something similar to this SSK: According to its product page, the “DIMPLE” Technology is located deep in the palm at the catching point of the glove to help reduce spin, increase grip, and creates an easier glove to hand transfer. I grabbed this exclusive DICK’S Sporting Goods color way and ..read more

Picture this: it’s a much warmer temperature than it is throughout most of America in late February. You’ve got a bunch of your gear in various places because it has been a long offseason of workouts where you brought a glove in one bag, a bat in another, and cleats in the trunk. At long last, it’s gameday – and it’s time to pack your gamer bag. Here’s what I’m bringing to the field, this time transitioning from an MLB-sized WBC-issued catcher’s bag that I got during the 2020 Qualifier over to the Rawlings Gold Collection Bat Pack via DICK’S Sporting Goods. View this post on Instagram A pos ..read more

Since 2017, we’ve tracked the cleats worn by MLB starters, and the 2023 numbers are in. This Franklin sponsored report (like our glove report) focuses on starting position players. These players are noted on Baseball-Reference.com’s 2023 team pages, along with a few select players. Focusing on the most active players, starters, allows for the efficiency of data to be improved. Spoiler: Nike hasn’t gone anywhere. Ronald Acuña Jr.’s Nike Alpha Huarache Elite 3 cleats for Jackie Robinson Day. Read on to see what brands were worn by baseball starters in 2023, but first, let’s look back at the data ..read more

For the second time since 2018, we’ve compiled the data from the 2023 MLB season to bring you the catcher’s gear report. Focusing on the starting catchers listed on Baseball-Reference.com’s 2023 team pages, we examined the most popular brands of catcher’s gear, gloves, and masks used throughout the year. Catchers need gear that they can rely on for performance and safety. Judging by the numbers, there is a clear consensus about the best gear in the game. Rawlings, Nike, All-Star and Force3 solidified themselves as some of the top brands among Major League catchers, all having very strong showi ..read more

We recently brought you the 2023 Glove Report so it’s only natural that we follow up with the tools of the trade for the offensive side of the game. Unlike leather, Big Leaguers have proven to be more open to having different brands in the rotation for when they step into the box. Here is that breakdown: Juan Soto swings a 34-inch Old Hickory Maple AJ25. In order to make this report and the others like it, WPW spends the year cataloging MLB starters (not including pitchers) equipment based on Baseball-Reference.com’s team pages, as well as a few others. When it comes to what the pros are swing ..read more

Every year, back to 2013, we track the top glove brands worn by MLB starters. As far as starting MLB players are concerned (excluding pitchers), Rawlings continues to hold a firm vice grip amongst glove brands, appearing on 53% of starting Major Leaguers. Meanwhile, the other major player, Wilson, gained three percent in 2023 compared to 2022 while Rawlings dropped 2 points. Still, there’s a healthy margin between the two, and an even bigger gap exists between the top two and the rest of the pack. 44Pro leapt over Mizuno for third place, with seven Big Leaguers donning the California-based bra ..read more