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Wilson A2000 catchers mitts are some of the most popular mitts among serious Baseball and Fastpitch Softball catchers.
This post takes a close look at A2000's, reviewing their history, key features and current usage among MLB catchers. We then provide an overview of each A2000 catcher's mitt currently in production by Wilson.
Keep reading to learn more!
Wilson A2000 Catchers Mitts
One of the most popular glove brand among catchers today is Wilson. Their catcher's mitts can be found everywhere, from little league fields all the way up to big league stadiums.
Of all the catcher's mitts that Wilson makes, the A2000 line stands out for its high quality and universal popularity. They are often among the highest selling mitts on the market.
The A2000 model has a long and interesting history. Wilson first introduced A2000 Baseball gloves to the general public all the way back in 1957.
Most gloves prior to this time had more of an 'oven mitt' type of shape than they do now. The Wilson A2000 was the first popular glove to have a deep pocket and a hinge, allowing you to close the glove like a set of jaws.
This same basic glove design is, of course, still in use today.
The new gloves quickly caught on and were adopted by pro ballplayers across the big leagues. Ads during the late 50s and the 60s show A2000's being used by perennial all stars like Al Kaline, Nellie Fox, Luis Aparicio and Ron Santo.
Over time, A2000 gloves would go through continual evolution and improvement. Updated models would be regularly released with a slightly different design or feature added in, intended to give a competitive edge to its wearer.
As a result, A2000's earned a reputation as being a glove model that was innovative, high-quality, and consistently improved upon.
Wilson's Glove Making Process
Wilson gloves are each man made. It's a meticulous process to make these gloves, which usually takes 18 hours from start to finish.
The process involves a series of 11 important steps like cutting the leather, stamping, embroidery, binding, lacing and pounding.
Check out the short, 3 minute video below to learn more. The video does a good job of showing the high degree of quality in Wilson's products.
Pro Players that use A2000 Mitts
A number of MLB catchers currently use Wilson A2000 catchers mitts. A list of active pro catchers that currently use them is below: (note: this is not an all-inclusive list!)
- A.J. Ellis
- Austin Barnes
- Jason Castro
- Kevin Plawecki
- Luke Maile
- Mitch Garver
- Welington Castillo
- Willson Contreras
- Wilson Ramos
Features to Consider
All catcher's mitts are not created equal. Some are just better overall mitts than others, and that is usually determined by the quality of the mitt and the features that it comes with.
The specific features that appeal to catchers can differ by person to person, but some things to consider include:
- Leather. Having a catchers mitt with high quality leather is important as the better the leather, the better the durability and longevity of the mitt. Many newer models in Wilson's A2000 series are built with a blend of traditional steerhide leather and SuperSkin, while some are 100% traditional leather. The choice is up to you.
- SuperSkin. This is a new leather alternative used in many Wilson gloves both within and outside of the A2000 series. SuperSkin consists of a microfiber material (the exact composition of which is a secret) that is 50% lighter and two times stronger than traditional leather. SuperSkin repels water and also allows for a much shorter break-in time than traditional leather.
- Pocket. Some catcher's mitts come with deeper pockets than others. Generally the deeper the pocket the better able you are to control the ball. Mitts that do not have as deep of a pocket generally have wider webs and/or extended palms.
- Wrist Area. Some mitts are built with velcro straps around the wrist while others have none. The velcro strip allows you to quickly customize the tightness of the mitt around your wrist, which is preferred by some catchers. Also, some A2000 mitts come with "Dri-Lex" wrist liners, designed to transfer moisture away from the skin.
- Model. As a rule of thumb, the newer the model, the newer the "glove technology" built into the mitt. This can be in the form of new features added to give the user a competitive edge. The pro of using the newest model is that you will have a premium mitt containing the newest features that a manufacturer offers. The main con is that they tend to be more expensive than older models - and an older model may serve you just fine.
There are no doubt other features to keep in mind, but these are the main ones that we see.
Sizing Considerations
Catcher's mitts are measured by their circumference, not their length.
The two A2000 models (shown below) for Fastpitch catchers are 34 inches, which is a great size for all non-youth aged Softball catchers.
Wilson's A2000 mitts for Baseball range from 32.5 to 34 inches, which work for all non-youth aged Baseball catchers.
Some may opt for bigger coverage and choose a 34 inch model, while others may prefer a "smaller" 32.5 inch version to help them get the ball out of the mitt a bit more quickly. Some may just split the difference and choose a 33 or 33.5 inch version!
Ultimately, you should choose the size simply based on the catcher's comfort with the mitt. The user's comfort really the most important factor with respect to size.
Coach Xan Barksdale supports this, and adds: "I honestly believe that there isn’t a big difference between the “small” mitt and the “huge” one. I don’t think that using one mitt or the other is going to make a difference in how well you catch, block, or throw the ball" [source].
Overview of Available Wilson A2000 Catchers Mitts
This section provides an image of each A2000 catcher's mitt along with a brief, bullet-point overview of each mitt. Please note that Wilson makes A2000 catchers mitts for both Baseball and Fastpitch Softball catchers, and we feature each.
The selection of A2000 mitts in this section are based on those currently (meaning, as of the date of publication) being sold and manufactured by Wilson.
You may be able to find other A2000 mitts on retailer's websites that don't appear on this list. They will typically be older model mitts that are no longer being produced by Wilson.
We'll start this section by looking at the two A2000 catchers mitts currently made for Fastpitch Softball catchers.
Fastpitch Softball
2019 A2000 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
34 inches
Gray, gold, white color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Built with a mix of SuperSkin and traditional leather
Internal padding added to reduce sting
Velco wrist strap for custom fit
Lightweight, durable, long lasting
SKU(s): WTA20RF19CM34SS
2017 A2000 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
34 inches
Black, white color combination only
Right hand throw only
Built with a horizontal hinge web to control softball spin
Contains a mix of SuperSkin and traditional leather
Velcro wrist strap
Added pocket pad to limit sting
SKU(s): WTA20RF17CMSS
Baseball
2019 A2000 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
34 inches
Black, gray, white color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Wilson's newest, premium A2000 catcher's mitt for Baseball players
Extended palm reduces ball rebound
Velcro wrist strap for custom wrist tightness
Wider web and firmer thumb than prior versions
Special wrist liner helps keep you dry
Built with a combination of traditional leather and SuperSkin
Molds to hand well after break in
SKU(s): WTA20RB191790SS
2019 A2000 M1 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
33.5 inches
Black, tan, gray color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Half moon web
Constructed with a mix of black SuperSkin and traditional tan leather
Contains "Dri-Lex" wrist liner and extended palm
SKU(s): WTA20RB19M1SS
2019 A2000 CM33
Overview of this Mitt
33 inches
Black, tan, white color combination only
Right hand throw only
Half moon web
Made with traditional leather only
Thinner heel pad
Built with a deeper pocket (for improved control) than other A2000 mitts
Wilson states this is the most popular pattern used in the big leagues
SKU(s): WTA20RB19CM33
2019 A2000 CM33 Pedroia Fit
Overview of this Mitt
33 inches
Gray, tan, white color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Made exclusively for catchers with smaller hands (ie, the 'Pedroia Fit' line)
Deeper pockets and thinner heel pad than most A2000s
Velcro strap for custom tightness
Constructed with gray SuperSkin and tan traditional leather
SKU(s): WTA20RB19PFCM33
2018 A2000 M2 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
33.5 inches
Black color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Made with black SuperSkin and black traditional leather
Dual welting design for a sturdy pocket
Internal thumb protector built in
SKU(s): WTA20RB18M2SS
2017 A2000 1790 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
34 inches
Black, gray color combination only
Right hand throw only
Built with black SuperSkin and black/gray traditional leather
Extended palm, firmer thumb area and wider web than other mitts
SKU(s): WTA20RB171790SS
2017 A2000 M1 SuperSkin
Overview of this Mitt
33.5 inches
Black, white color pattern only
Right hand throw only
Constructed with SuperSkin and traditional leather
Extended palm to mitigate ball rebound
Special wrist liner to help keep you dry
SKU(s): WTA20RB17M1SS
A2000 CM33 (previous model)
Overview of this Mitt
33 inches
Tan, black color design only
Right hand throw only
Made with traditional, Pro Stock leather
Thin heel pad and deeper pocket than most
Wrist liner keeps you dry
SKU(s): WTA20RB17CM33
A2000 Pudge Series
Overview of this Mitt
32.5 inches
Tan, black color combination only
Right hand throw only
Made with traditional leather
Dual welting and extended palm
Stiffer thumb and "Dri-Lex" wrist liner
SKU(s): WTA20RB17PUDGE
Thank you for reading!
We really hope this post was helpful to you. If you have any questions for us - whether it's about Wilson A2000 catchers mitts or catching in general - then please don't hesitate to reach out by heading over to the Contact Us page.
Scott Perry
Scott Perry is the owner and lead author at Catchers Home. He's a former baseball player, a current coach, a husband and a Dad. He remains as passionate about baseball today as he was as a kid.