Baserunner mittens, also called sliding mitts or grip gloves, are protective accessories worn by baseball players when on base. Constructed from padded synthetic materials with textured silicone palm grips, these mitts cover the base runner's non-throwing hand to enhance safety and performance during slides. Top brands include Franklin Sports, Nike, and Under Armour.
Key Functions
Injury Prevention: Mittens cushion hands against abrasions and impacts during head-first slides, protecting knuckles, fingers, and palms from turf burns, base collisions, or cleat contact. This reduces risks of fractures, dislocations, and lacerations.
Enhanced Grip: Silicone palm patterns increase friction when touching bases, especially critical during wet conditions. This prevents hands from slipping during slides, ensuring runners maintain contact with the bag.
Why Players Wear Them
- Safety Priority: Reduces hand injuries by up to 67% according to MLB injury data, particularly during aggressive head-first slides into bases.
- Performance Confidence: Allows runners to slide at maximum speed without hesitation, potentially shaving 0.1-0.3 seconds off steal attempts.
- Weather Adaptation: Maintains consistent grip in rain or humidity when bare hands would slip on bases.
- Material Durability: Withstands repeated high-friction impacts that would damage skin, outlasting standard batting gloves.
Used primarily by players known for aggressive base running, mittens have become standard equipment at all competitive levels since their mainstream adoption in the early 2000s. Their lightweight design (typically 2-4 oz) ensures no hindrance to running speed or hand mobility while providing critical protection at key moments.
