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Your cart is empty.32” circumference pattern, Spiral-Lock web, open back Akadema’s exclusive Grasp-Clasp wrist system, and deep pocket designed for the serious youth catcher. Designed by Hall of Famer Gary Carter, the AGC-98 features new patent pending "Stress Wedge" technology, located between the index finger and thumb, the Praying Mantis offers shock absorbing protection for the hand against injury and sting when receiving the ball. The Praying Mantis also offers two additional "Finger Hammocks" allowing the fingers to be firmly positioned and more secure in the glove. Additional features include the "Double-sided Slim Padding" allowing for increased pocket size and easier ball retention. Uniquely designed shape allows the throwing hand easier access into the pocket, resulting in a quicker glove to hand transfer and faster times to second base. The Praying Mantis also features a "Double Flexhinge" which makes the glove snap closed on contact. Hand-crafted with select U.S. Steerhide pocket, AkademaLyte leather on the back, and Akadema ¼” Rawhide gray lacing. Right or left hand throw.
Shannon
Reviewed in Canada on April 17, 2020
My grandson who is 14 yrs old and plays baseball in higher division (up to 18 yrs old) loves it. It did not take long to break in, was soft and so far better than the last few we purchased at a local store that sells sports supply and tools, etc geared to all ages. Better padding than most others we have found.
José mares
Reviewed in Mexico on February 4, 2019
Es muy pequeño
Martin Magana
Reviewed in Mexico on September 15, 2018
Buena calidad, sólo mejorar tema de medidas.
Travis
Reviewed in Canada on September 12, 2018
Glove is excellent! Bought for my 10 year old aspiring catcher - he loves it. Short break in period before it was game ready. Has a very loud snap - pitchers love pitching to him. Best looking catchers mitt that we have come across.
Justin F.
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2018
It is about at stiff as a rock my son will not be able to use for at least a year and he will work it out every day until he can. Will update when he can actually use it. I would say it is good for 10-14 age group. You can tell it is a good quality glove. But my small 10 year will not be using it this season. I have a hard time with it.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2018
Appears well made and the padding for the index finger is substantial. Oiled the hinge points a few times now, beat it with a ball and we’ve played catch a few times. Our 9u catcher is loving it, it will replace a well used all star mitt.Break in old school is going faster than I expected. It may make a game appearance inside of 40 days. We really expected to use next season.Update...Game debut made about 45 days after receipt. Closes very well still a little stiff opening. Should last a few seasons. Not wearing a thumb guard with this mitt and only one stinger in 3 games. Much improved from every inning...
Jeffrey M. Froelich
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2017
My son is an avid and I mean avid baseball player. He is almost 12 and plays straight through from April until October. He plays in various leagues, tournament teams and travel teams. He plays all positions, but frequently gets called upon to catch as he is a skilled player. He was asked to play up this past fall and play for the U15 travel team. He had been using a Mizuno youth catcher's mitt. However, the older 14 and 15 year old boys pitch must faster then the 11 and 12 year olds he was used to catching for. The Mizuno youth catcher's mitts are great for the under 12 players and I highly recommend them for that age group. However, as I stated the older boys can pitch a lot faster, some of them are throwing at well above 75 miles per hour. My son had complained that his catcher's glove did not have enough padding and was hurting his hand, so I went looking for a new one. I started playing youth baseball myself in the 1970's and have been coaching youth baseball for 8 seasons now, so I know a thing or two about baseball equipment. I had never purchased an Akadema glove or had any experience with that company before. I liked what I saw at Amazon and purchased this model for my son. When I received it, I was amazed. The quality, the stitching, the leather it is made from is darn near professional grade. I have to say that this glove was one of the finest overall quality youth (and by youth I mean up to late teens) gloves I have ever seen. After a vigorous break in period, my son has been using this glove when he catches. He loves it and the faster pitches no longer hurt his hand. There is extra padding in this glove to prevent a catcher's hand, mainly the area between the player's thumb and index finger from taking a pounding. This glove is a high quality glove that will last for many seasons. I and my son could not be happier about this product. It was so impressed I went to the Akadema web site and ordered him a regular fielder's glove for Christmas. I highly recommend this product.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2016
Very nice glove overall, but the write up was a little less than accurate. Despite being a 32 inch glove I couldn't get my hand in it to save my life. Apparently the "Prodigy Series" is a youth line. I don't recall seeing that mentioned anywhere, but after some searching elsewhere I did find that out on my own. Thankfully it was purchased for my son who was 8 at the time so it fits him, well, like a glove. The break in time is pretty lengthy, but can be used right away by a stronger player. Although it is a glove only a youth can use, I wouldn't call it a beginner's glove. Fortunately my son had already had a year of work behind the dish. The "preying mantis" hinge style also offered some help in keeping the ball in the glove. The glove pictured is black and grey, but the one that arrived was brown and beige. Not a big deal as it is a great looking glove. It was also difficult to tell the country of origin from the description and Akadema likes to talk about their use of U.S. workers, etc., but this was not made here. I found out after that only the custom gloves are made in the USA. Overall, a nice product, quality materials, but not exactly what I was expecting.
LVL Buyer
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2016
The pocket design (with the lip to hold onto balls) is impressive, but the leather & rawhide feels a more cheap plastic-feeling glove. This is making it resistant to breaking-in. For the age group (kids with less grip strength than adults), I'd suggest the easier to squeeze Mizuno Prospect GXC105.
toddtine
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2015
My 9U travel ball player uses this glove. It fits a kids hand fine (and adults with smaller hands) and has alot of pop that other high quality leather gloves will make. Well made glove even though has Made in China tag. Still breaking in the glove after 1 month of use (had it steamed, oiled and mallet prior to first use). Most of the pitchers throw in 50-55mph range and he doesn't feel a sting if caught in palm so that is better than the other entry level Mizuno and All Star Gloves we had been using. Overall, it should last at least 2 years (he plays about 70 games/yr). I'm happy with the purchase and view it as a good value (got on sale for $62) plus the $30 for oil, steam and mallet. So for less than $100 a glove that should last two full seasons is good in my book.
Rich S
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2013
I bought this for my 9-year old spring rec team, as the catcher's mitt (and gear) provided by the league was aweful. This mitt is beautifully made and felt great out of the package. After one game it felt broken in. It made a huge difference in the kids' desire and ability to play the catcher position. The ball just seems to find the pocket. Now the kids on my son's summer travel team fight over who gets to use it, even though they have a few other nice gloves to chose from (they're all good about sharing each other's equipment.I highly recommend this glove. You can spend less and still get a decent glove, but for me the extra cost was worth it. Even though it's a youth glove, I can fit it on my average-sized hand, so I'm sure the kids won't outgrow it for years to come. As usual, Amazon's price was the best I found.
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