Franklin Sports, a leading brand in the sporting goods industry, today announced the launch of the ULTRA BG™, its newest premium batting gloves and one of the most significant product innovations in the company’s storied baseball and softball history. Marking a major milestone as Franklin celebrates its 80th anniversary and 43 years as Major League Baseball’s Official Batting Gloves, the ULTRA BG represents the next evolution of the product category that has helped define the brand’s legacy on-field and reputation as a trusted name in the sport.

The sixth professional batting glove model introduced by Franklin Sports during its longstanding MLB partnership, the ULTRA BG was developed through an intensive, athlete-driven process designed to deliver a new level of fit, feel and performance. Previously available exclusively to a select group of Franklin’s rostered professional athletes, the gloves are now available to players and fans nationwide, bringing professional-level innovation to the next generation of hitters.

“The ULTRA BG batting gloves product line represents everything we’ve learned from decades of working alongside the best players in baseball,” said Adam Franklin, President of Franklin Sports. “Our legacy is built on earning athletes’ trust, and our responsibility is to keep raising the standard. This launch honors that commitment while bringing our latest innovation to the next generation of hitters. As we celebrate 80 years as a company, ULTRA BG is an important statement about where we’re headed and our continued investment in the game.”

Throughout the 2026 MLB season, Franklin Sports worked directly with 30 of its professional players to test, refine and validate the ULTRA BG before its consumer debut. The select roster of Franklin athletes wore the gloves during the season, providing real-time feedback to inform and improve its development. Among its early adopters were Boston Red Sox All-Star Ceddanne Rafaela, Colorado Rockies two-time All-Star Hunter Goodman, and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonny DeLuca, who wore them in the 2026 World Series.

This hands-on development process reflects Franklin Sports’ longstanding commitment to professional athlete validation as its Best Batting Gloves Ever Made™. The new batting gloves are worn, tested and approved by MLB players before reaching the retail market. With professional adoption continuing to grow, Franklin anticipates expanding its roster of MLB athletes wearing the ULTRA BG heading into the 2027 season.

“Every detail of the ULTRA BG was developed with the hitter in mind,” said Shaun Krieger, Senior Director of Diamond Sports Product Strategy at Franklin Sports. “From the premium materials to the way the glove moves with the hand, the goal was simple— deliver the fit, feel and durability that allow players to focus on their next swing. The feedback we received from professional athletes throughout the development process helped us refine the glove into a product we’re proud to bring to players at every level.”

The ULTRA BG combines premium Ultra-Luxe™ leather, a patent-pending Flexstrap™ closure and sweat-resistant technology in a performance-driven design built to move naturally with the hand. The result is a flexible, secure fit, exceptional feel and lasting durability, helping hitters maintain comfort, confidence and a strong connection to the bat. Designed for baseball and softball athletes across youth, high school, collegiate and professional levels, the ULTRA BG brings together refined materials and purposeful engineering in gloves built for the demands of the game.

As Franklin Sports celebrates 80 years of bringing athletes closer to the sports they love, the ULTRA BG release underscores the company’s continued commitment to advancing performance through collaboration with the athletes who know the game best. The launch builds on Franklin’s longstanding position in baseball and softball, translating decades of product expertise and professional insight into its next generation of batting gloves.

The ULTRA BG batting gloves are available at DICK’S Sporting Goods, MLBShop.com and FranklinSports.com, with suggested retail prices of $100 for adults and $90 for youth. The glove is offered in five colorways: Pearl and White, Vanilla and Gold, Cotton Candy, Mint Chip, and Carolina and Navy.

Photography and video assets featuring the ULTRA BG are available here. Photo and video credit: Franklin Sports.

About Franklin Sports

Founded by Irving Franklin in 1946, Franklin Sports is a Stoughton, Massachusetts-based sporting goods brand that manufactures and sells more than 10,000 products across a wide range of categories. A multigenerational, family-owned business, Franklin serves athletes from recreational play to the professional level. Its partners also include Major League Baseball, the National Football League, Major League Soccer, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, Major League Volleyball, USA Pickleball, the Franklin US Open Pickleball Championships, the Women’s National Basketball Association, the National Women’s Soccer League, Hasbro and many others.

At Franklin Sports, the team believes that sports make life better. For more information, visit www.franklinsports.com or follow Franklin on Instagram @franklinsports, @franklinsportseqp.

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