Valle Eagle 27S Catcher's Training Mitt
The Valle Eagle 27S is a 27 inch catcher's training mitt for baseball, built from Japanese steerhide with a two-piece closed web and an adjustable strap wrist back. It is the best-selling catcher's trainer in the Valle line because it sits in the sweet spot: small enough that a pitch has to be received in the right part of the pocket to stick, but large enough to feel like a real mitt in the hand. Catchers from youth through the professional ranks use the 27S in warm-ups and practice to build proper receiving habits, quicker transfers and better focus on every pitch.
A Small Pocket That Reinforces Good Habits
Game mitts are 32 to 34 inches around and forgiving by design. The 27S takes five to seven inches off that and shrinks the pocket, so a pitch caught in the heel, in the web or with a late glove hand kicks out instead of sticking. A catcher gets that feedback on every pitch of a receiving round without a coach having to watch the mitt, and over a few sessions the hands get earlier and quieter, which is what turns borderline pitches into strikes. Because the ball sits closer to the throwing hand in a small mitt, the transfer on throw-downs speeds up as well.
Game-Mitt Construction at Training Size
The 27S is built to take real pitching: a Japanese steerhide shell, major-league-quality USA-tanned lacing, additional palm padding, and a design and shape refined from feedback from professional catchers. The two-piece closed web keeps the pocket shallow and the mitt stiff enough to hold its shape through a season of bullpens. The strap wrist back adjusts to fit a youth hand or an adult and keeps the mitt from turning on a pitch caught off the corner. The mitt is Valle white with "Train Like A Pro" embroidered on the shell. Catchers who want extra protection on high-velocity rounds add the Eagle G-Pad.
Who This Catcher's Training Mitt Is For
The 27S is the right first training mitt for most baseball catchers, from about age 12 through college and professional players, and the mitt coaches hand to a whole catching staff for receiving rounds. Catchers who already receive well and want the hardest challenge should look at the smaller Eagle T25; catchers who want the 27 inch pattern with the web removed have the Eagle 27HW half-web trainer, and a weighted 27 inch version builds glove-hand strength. Kip leather versions are made in the Eagle Pro series. The 27S is baseball-specific and made for right-hand throwers; softball catchers have the 28 inch T28S.
How to Use the Eagle 27S
Use the 27S for the receiving portion of every catching session. Start with short-range throws from a coach, catching each pitch in the center of the pocket with the mitt beating the ball to the spot and the throwing hand coming to the mitt. Add framing rounds on the corners and at the knees, then live arms or machine pitching at increasing velocity. Throw-down drills from the knees and the feet make use of the faster transfer, and blocking rounds with the 27S keep the hands quiet. Finish with a few rounds in the game mitt so the catcher feels how much easier it has become.
Caring for a Catcher's Training Mitt
The 27S is built to be used hard and it needs very little care to last. Break it in by receiving with it: a few rounds of throws and a bullpen or two will shape the pocket around a baseball far better than steaming or oiling, both of which soften leather that is supposed to stay firm. Keep a ball in the pocket between sessions, let the mitt air dry after a wet practice rather than leaving it in a hot bag, and wipe the white leather with a damp cloth when the dirt builds up. A light conditioner once or twice a season is enough. If the palm starts to feel thin after a season of machine work, the Eagle G-Pad restores the protection without changing the pocket. Treated this way a 27S goes through several seasons of daily receiving rounds, which is why high school and college programs keep a set of them for the whole catching staff.
Valle Eagle 27S Catcher's Training Mitt Specifications
- Type: undersized catcher's training mitt for baseball
- Series: Valle Eagle S-Series
- Size: 27 inch circumference
- Web: two-piece closed web
- Leather: Japanese steerhide shell with USA-tanned leather lacing
- Padding: additional palm padding; compatible with the Eagle G-Pad
- Wrist back: adjustable strap
- Position: catcher
- Throwing hand: right-hand throwers (mitt worn on the left hand)
- Color: Valle white with "Train Like A Pro" embroidery
- Age range: 12 and up
What's Included
One Valle Eagle 27S catcher's training mitt. The Eagle G-Pad is sold separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
27S, 27HW or 27WT: which one do I need?
The 27S is the standard trainer and the place to start. The 27HW removes the web so the pocket has to do all the work. The 27WT adds weight for glove-hand strength. Most catchers own the 27S first and add one of the others later.
Can a 12 year old use a 27 inch mitt?
Yes. The 27S is rated for ages 12 and up and the strap back adjusts to a smaller hand.
Can I catch bullpens with it?
Yes. It is built for live pitching and machine work. Add the Eagle G-Pad if the velocity is high.
Does it come for left-hand throwers?
No. The 27S is made for right-hand throwers only. A left-handed catcher is rare enough that Valle does not build the mitt in that hand.
Is the 27S a softball mitt?
No. The 27S is built for baseball. Softball catchers use the 28 inch Eagle T28S, which is patterned for the 12 inch ball.
How does it compare to the T25?
The T25 is two inches smaller and more demanding. The 27S feels closer to a game mitt, which makes it the better first trainer and the better choice for younger catchers.