We started with a simple belief: players deserve better

For more than twenty years, baseball hitters had only one option for thumb protection. One design. One shape. One choice. Craig First, a lifelong baseball fan, laser engineer, and the inventor of ThumbPRO®, saw something most players had overlooked. Players were still feeling pain, still getting jammed up, and still using gear that had not changed in decades. Craig knew hitters deserved something better.

He believed players deserved innovation. Real innovation.

So he, along with his wife, Nina, got to work.

How ThumbPRO® Began

Craig grew up around the game and later built a career in engineering, where precision and problem-solving are second nature. When he watched hitters adjust their grip or shake out their hands after a bad sting, he knew there had to be a better way.

He put his engineering skills to use with 3-D CAD design, rapid prototyping, multi-iteration, and continuous product refinement. He researched a polymer that would be both shock absorbing and maintain consistent performance across all temperatures that a player might encounter. After dozens of early models, something clicked: a guard that finally fit the way the hand actually works.

Engineered. Contoured. Comfortable. And different from anything that had ever been on the market.

That design became ThumbPRO®.

From a Small Family Business to the Pros.

January 2020 ThumbPRO® launched at the American Baseball Association National Conference and won "Best of Show." Within three months, ThumbPRO® was being used by multiple MLB players at Spring Training. 

One of the most common responses was that players kept commenting about how comfortable ThumbPRO® is, while still eliminating bat sting. 

Players responded. They liked the feel. They liked the support. They kept wearing it.

Word spread. ThumbPRO® began showing up on hands across the league. Soon, it reached postseason lineups. And today, you can find ThumbPRO® on players competing at every level, including those stepping into the box during the biggest stage in baseball.

Why Players Choose ThumbPRO

Every ThumbPRO® is designed, sourced, and manufactured in the USA using high-quality materials and a patented contoured form that supports the thumb while letting hitters stay relaxed and comfortable. It is trusted because it was built for real hitters, tested by real hitters, and refined based on what players actually needed.

We believe good gear should allow a player to perform at their best. 

What Players Say

“This is the only thumb guard that actually stays in place and feels natural in the hand.”

“Absolutely loved it. Keeps the sting away better than any thumb guard or pro hitter I’ve tried.”

“Stops all the sting, even off the Hack Attack at high velo. Puts my grip in a better position. Highly recommend.”

“I wish we found this sooner. Immediate difference in comfort and confidence for our young hitter.”

A Note from Craig

"As an engineer, I look at problems differently. If something hasn’t been improved in decades, that usually means no one has tried. Baseball players deserve choices, comfort, and equipment that advances with the game. ThumbPRO® exists because hitters deserved something better, and I’m proud that so many players at every level choose to step into the box with ThumbPRO®"
— Craig First, Inventor 

Our Commitment To You

We remain a small, family-owned, company, and we still focus on the same things that mattered from day one:

• Bring fresh innovation to an essential piece of protective equipment for batters in the modern age. 
  

• Treat every customer like part of our community.

• Offer personal, friendly, customer service.

Our name says it all: ThumbPRO means Thumb Protection, allowing you to stay in the game with confidence and be your best. 

Reach out anytime, we love to hear from you. 

Best, 
Craig and Nina

ThumbPRO® 's unique innovative design is protected by patents in the United States and aboard, ensuring players receive the authentic design.