The MLB is debuting new uniforms this season which were designed by Nike but produced by Fanatics. Virtually everybody is dissatisfied with the results.
Players have complained that the MLB’s Player Association (MLBPA) is trying to get the league to adjust the kits before the season starts.
“Any time there’s change, there’s an adjustment period. Sometimes that adjustment period goes well, sometimes not so much. In this instance, there appear to be some misses that could have otherwise not been misses,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clarke told The Athletic.
Players have been popping off on the new threads as well. Angels outfielder Taylor Ward gave them a “thumbs down,” saying, “It feels kind of like papery. It could be great when you’re out there sweating, it may be breathable. But I haven’t had that opportunity yet to try that out. But from the looks of it, it doesn’t look like a $450 jersey,” according to The Athletic.
Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas was also apparently unhappy, telling Belleville News Democrat’s Jeff Jones that the pants don’t fit right.
This is what the back of the white jerseys look like with the new template. Players are pretty unhappy. Miles Mikolas says they also don’t fit right; pants are no longer as customized, and the fabric is a very different consistency.
“They look cheap,” another player said. pic.twitter.com/UoH4vVHTfd
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) February 13, 2024
While many MLB stars have also rained praise on the new uniforms — Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado and Ronald Acuna Jr., to name a few — all of them have been Nike-sponsored athletes with a financial incentive to not bash their benefactor. (RELATED: Anthony Rendon Admits Baseball Has ‘Never Been A Top Priority.’ Fans Are Now Blasting Him)
Besides the complaints about the feel and fit, the jerseys also look just downright weird. The shadings are all off and the names on the back are significantly smaller than in previous versions.
Last year vs this year’s replica jersey offerings from the fine folks at MLB, Nike & Fanatics. Last year’s being on the left and this year’s on the right.
I have a lot to say, so bear with me here.
Let’s just rip the bandaid off right away with this year’s new jersey offerings pic.twitter.com/3IShhlj0nL
— Bobby Mullins (@TheBobbyMullins) February 11, 2024
Angels reliever Carlos Estevez bemoaned the tiny lettering. “Look at the last names, bro. I’m 6-foot-6. This is going to look tiny on me,” he said, per The Athletic.
The uniforms are so bad that the manufacturer, billionaire Michael Rubin-owned Fanatics, thought they were defective.
lmao Fanatics’ new jerseys are so trash that their customer service team is responding “oops, that looks wrong, please contact us so we can replace your screwed-up jersey order” not realizing they’re replying to… a photo of an actual MLB player’s actual MLB uniform pic.twitter.com/LXQSRLXdHK
— ℳatt (@matttomic) February 21, 2024
After a Mariners fan posted a screenshot of new Mariners infielder Michael Chavis holding up his Mariners jersey on Instagram, Fanatics apparently responded (and then deleted) with a tweet saying “Hey there, it looks like we dropped the ball on this one. Send me a DM so I can learn more about this! – Kyle”
Needless to say, Kyle is probably getting fired. But he shouldn’t be the only one.