Best Franklin Kids Baseball Gloves (2026): By Age, With Size Chart

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Short on time? Our picks

Ages 3–5Meshtek Glove + Ball4.7★, 5,800+ ratingsCheck price on Amazon →Ages 3–6Air Tech Glove + Ball4.7★, 2,200+Check price on Amazon →

Best Franklin kids baseball gloves · 2026

Tee ball: the Meshtek. Ages 7–12: the RTP Pro.

Franklin has eight gloves in Amazon’s top 30 baseball mitts best sellers, more than any other brand, and most are made for kids. We sorted them by age so you can pick the right one fast, with a Franklin glove size chart below.

Check the Meshtek on Amazon →

Franklin baseball glove size chart for kids

Ages are rough. Kids with bigger hands or who play outfield can go half an inch to an inch larger. For all positions and brands, see our baseball glove size chart by age.

The best Franklin kids gloves

Best for tee ball

Franklin Meshtek Glove + Ball

You need this if: your child is 3 to 5 and trying baseball for the first time.

• SizesAbout 8.5″–9.5″
• BuildSoft mesh, no break-in
• IncludesSoft foam ball
• Rating4.7★ (5,800+ ratings)

Why we recommend it: The most-reviewed Franklin kids glove. Buyers praise the fit, softness and that it suits beginners right out of the box. Read our full Meshtek review.

Keep in mind: Too soft for kid-pitch with hard baseballs. Move up around age 6 or 7.

Check price on Amazon →

Softest for toddlers

Franklin Air Tech Glove + Ball

You need this if: you want the softest possible first glove for a toddler.

• SizeTee ball
• BuildSoft, air-mesh construction
• IncludesBall
• Rating4.7★ (2,200+ ratings)

Why we recommend it: Very soft and light, so even 3-year-olds can close it.

Keep in mind: For play and tee ball only, not real baseballs.

Check price on Amazon →

Best tee ball to coach pitch

Franklin Shok-Sorb Teeball Glove

You need this if: your child is 5 to 7 and plays organized tee ball.

• SizeAbout 9.5″
• PaddingShok-Sorb palm padding
• BuildSynthetic, game ready
• Rating4.6★ (2,700+ ratings)

Why we recommend it: A step up from mesh gloves, with palm padding for harder balls in coach pitch.

Keep in mind: Synthetic, so it won’t last like leather for older kids.

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Best for ages 7–12

Franklin RTP Pro Fielding Glove

You need this if: your child plays kid-pitch Little League.

• SizesYouth sizes, about 10″–12″
• FeelReady to play, little break-in
• UseYouth baseball and softball
• Rating4.6★ (900+ ratings)

Why we recommend it: “RTP” means ready to play: it closes easily but has the structure older kids need.

Keep in mind: Serious travel players may want leather from Wilson or Rawlings.

Check price on Amazon →

Best value, older kids

Franklin Field Master Baseball Glove

You need this if: you want a cheap glove for a bigger kid, teen or adult casual player.

• SizesYouth to adult
• BuildSynthetic and leather blend
• Rank#1 Franklin in baseball mitts
• Rating4.5★ (2,200+ ratings)

Why we recommend it: The best-selling Franklin glove, with sizes up to adult. Great for backyard catch and rec ball.

Keep in mind: Not as durable as full-leather gloves.

Check price on Amazon →

Other Franklin kids gloves

Mesh, synthetic or leather?

• Mesh (Meshtek, Air Tech): softest, lightest, best for ages 3–5 and foam or soft balls.
• Synthetic (Shok-Sorb, NeoGrip, RTP): game ready with more structure, ages 5–9.
• Leather blend (Field Master): more durable, for older kids and backyard catch.

Right hand throw or left hand throw?

Franklin listings use “Right Hand Throw” (glove on the left hand) and “Left Hand Throw” (glove on the right hand). If your child throws with the right hand, buy Right Hand Throw. Many Franklin kids gloves are sold in both.

Franklin gloves by stage of play

The ball matters. Mesh gloves are great with soft balls but don’t protect hands well against hard baseballs, so move up when the league switches balls.

How to help a young child catch with a glove

• Start with a soft ball and short, underhand tosses.
• Teach “thumbs together” for balls above the waist and “pinkies together” below.
• Use a glove small enough that the child can open and close it with one hand.
• Practice a few minutes a day rather than one long session.
• Praise effort, not just catches. Confidence comes first.

Why Franklin is so popular for kids

Franklin focuses on youth sports, and it shows in Amazon’s rankings. Its gloves are priced for families whose kids outgrow gear every year, they are game ready without break-in, and they come in bright colors kids like. The trade-off is durability: synthetic and mesh gloves don’t last as long as leather. For players under about 9, that rarely matters, because they will outgrow the glove before it wears out.

When to upgrade from Franklin

Once a child plays kid-pitch regularly, catches harder throws and wants a glove that holds its shape, it may be time for a leather glove. Signs include the pocket collapsing, the child’s fingers poking past the finger stalls, or hands stinging on hard catches. Good next steps are the Wilson A500 or a Rawlings youth leather glove. See our best Wilson youth baseball gloves guide.

Glove care for kids’ gloves

• Keep a ball in the pocket when storing it.
• Don’t leave it in a hot car or wet grass.
• Wipe off dirt with a dry cloth.
• Mesh gloves can be rinsed lightly and air-dried; don’t soak leather.

Gift tip

A Franklin glove with a ball, like the Meshtek or the Teeball Glove + Ball Set, is a great first-birthday-of-baseball gift for kids aged 3 to 5. Add a Grow-with-Me batting tee for the full starter kit. Read our Grow-with-Me tee review.

Franklin glove picks by budget

Prices change often, so check each listing. For kids under 6, there’s no need to spend more: they will outgrow the glove within a year.

Common mistakes when buying a kids glove

• Buying too big “to grow into”. A glove that is too big is hard to close and makes catching frustrating.
• Buying a stiff leather glove for a 4-year-old. Small hands can’t close it. Choose mesh or synthetic.
• Picking the wrong hand. Right-handed throwers wear the glove on the left hand.
• Keeping a mesh glove too long. Once hard baseballs come in, switch to a padded or leather glove.

Do girls need a different glove?

For tee ball and coach pitch, no. Kids gloves are unisex, and Franklin sells them in many colors. Girls who move to fastpitch softball at around age 7 or 8 should switch to a softball glove, which has a deeper pocket for the bigger ball. See our best softball gloves guide.

Our bottom line

Franklin is the easiest brand for kids’ first gloves: soft, cheap and ready to play. Start with the Meshtek or Air Tech for ages 3 to 5, move to the Shok-Sorb or NeoGrip for coach pitch, and use the RTP Pro or Field Master once your child plays kid-pitch baseball.

How a kids glove should fit

• Hand inside: fingers reach into each finger stall, not bunched in the first two.
• Wrist: the strap or neoprene wrist holds the glove on when the child shakes the hand.
• Closing: the child can squeeze the glove closed with one hand.
• Weight: they can hold it up in front of their face without the arm drooping.

If any of these fail, try a smaller or softer glove.

How we chose

We used Amazon’s Best Sellers list for baseball mitts, ratings and review counts as of October 2026, and Amazon’s review topics. We did not test these gloves ourselves. For more brands, see our best youth baseball gloves guide.