MESA -- On a nondescript day at Chicago Cubs camp, shortstop Addison Russell walked through the team’s clubhouse wearing latex gloves while holding his own leather in one hand. As he sat down at his locker, he began massaging the inside of his glove, smoothing the pocket over.
Spring’s annual "Glove Day" provides major league players with new gloves from various sporting companies for the upcoming season, and many times, beyond. Russell actually received his glove before camp and was working it over.
Next to their bats, position players are very particular about their gloves.