SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It's the day many Royals players look forward to each Spring Training -- the annual Wilson Glove Day, when representatives hand out the new model gloves.
The Royals have several players under contract with Wilson, including Ian Kennedy, Jorge Bonifacio, Jorge Soler, Nathan Karns, Hunter Dozier and Wily Peralta. One by one, they lined up and received their new Wilson gloves outside the clubhouse on Sunday morning.
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It was especially significant for Dozier, who is trying to make the conversion from third base-outfield to first base this spring.
Dozier ordered his first first baseman's glove prior to last year's Spring Training.
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"It's hardly been used," Dozier said. "You can tell."
Dozier, who also has a third-base glove and an outfield glove from Wilson, ordered a different model first baseman's glove this time around.
"I should be getting that one in pretty soon," he said. "The one I'm using now should last a couple of years at least. But I just wanted to try something else, too, and have a backup obviously. The one I have now has the leather that's called super skin, which makes it a little lighter.
"The new one I ordered is a little softer leather. I'll just get the new one and see which one I like better."
Dozier said it takes about two weeks to break a glove in.
And what will determine whether or not he likes the new glove better?
"If I make any errors with this one, I'll try the new one," Dozier said, smiling.