New Balance and Shohei continue to redefine the game, revealing details on a one-of-a-kind baseball glove.
Boston, MA – APRIL 6, 2023 – Just ahead of the Los Angeles Angels home opener, MLB American League MVP and 2023 World Baseball Classic Champion and MVP, Shohei Ohtani will be unveiling a completely custom New Balance glove, crafted to his exact specifications and made with the best in materials and innovation.
Wilson and New Balance brought shared values and legacies of craftsmanship to the glove design process, resulting in a one-of-one design for Shohei. Wilson Master Glove Craftsman Shigeaki Aso, who has transformed the glove industry throughout his 40-year career, collaborated with Shohei to design the New Balance glove. Modeled on the A2K® line of gloves made in Japan, Shohei’s custom glove features Tan Pro Stock® Select Leather and Double Palm Construction to meet the rigorous demands of a generational athlete. An embroidered New Balance 574 shoe appears on the wrist as Shohei’s personal nod to his relationship with New Balance extending well beyond baseball.
“New Balance’s dedication to product innovation, brand authenticity and letting me be myself is an important part of our relationship, and this glove shows that,” says Shohei. “I used a prototype of the glove during the World Baseball Classic tournament and it helped me achieve my dream of bringing the world title home to Japan. The details on the glove are a way for me to live freely in baseball and have fun with product.”
Based on an outfielder’s glove with longer fingers, Shohei’s New Balance glove features a wider pocket and closed web design to meet a pitcher’s needs. Wilson SuperSkin™ — a lightweight, water-resistant material — along the thumb and wrist reduce glove weight while improving durability. Aso designed Shohei’s glove with a tailored wrist strap to ensure a secure fit while fielding and pitching at maximum effort. Shohei requested a stiffer glove that would not shift positions while playing, so Aso included high-grade wool inserts in the thumb and pinky for increased stiffness and a modified palm liner with improved grip to limit movement on the hand.
“From our very first conversation, Shohei has been a seamless fit into the New Balance family,” says Chris Davis New Balance CMO and SVP of Global Marketing. “His passion for the brand and his trust in our team will allow us drive innovation, stylistic expression and inspire the next generation of athletes.”
Shohei is part of a stellar roster of athletes who are leaders in their respective sports such as Kawhi Leonard, Sydney McLaughlin, Coco Gauff, Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane and more. The common thread throughout the New Balance roster of athletes is their ability push through physical limits and ensure a lasting impact within the world of sports but also in the communities in which they are a part.
For more information, please visit www.newbalance.com/baseball.
About New Balance
New Balance, headquartered in Boston, MA, has the following purpose: Independent since 1906, we empower people through sport and craftsmanship to create positive change in communities around the world. Manufactured in the U.S. for more than 75 years and representing a limited portion of our U.S. sales, New Balance MADE U.S. is a premium collection that contains a domestic value of 70% or greater. New Balance owns five factories in New England and one in Flimby, U.K. New Balance employs 8,000 associates around the globe, and in 2022 reported worldwide sales of $5.3 billion. To learn more about New Balance, please visit www.newbalance.com and for the latest press information please visit http://newbalance.newsmarket.com.