Max Moroff has prepared himself for the day his black Wilson A2000 glove is no longer usable. Until then, the Pirates' switch-hitting infielder is careful not to throw it into his locker stall, and he stuffs a ball inside its webbing whenever he packs it away for a road trip.
Moroff has used the same glove since his senior year at Trinity Prep school in Winter Park, Fla. in 2012, and he can't find the same model anywhere. He's ordered gloves from Wilson over the past two seasons, only to discover the company cannot replicate the modified webbing. He found one for sale online two years ago from a website based in China; however, the $400 price tag was too much to spend on his minor-league salary.
The glove provides Moroff with comfort in an unpredictable profession that forces young players like him to learn how to prepare for any scenario, including the ultimate demise of his prized piece of leather. That also includes his latest test in his first stint with the Pirates this season: batting leadoff against a lefty starter for the second-highest scoring offense in the National League.
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