At long last, the jersey fiasco simmering in MLB appears to be reaching a resolution.
MLB plans to modify its new uniforms after receiving numerous complaints from players and fans. The uniforms, which made their wide-scale debut this season, are designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics.
The issues with the jerseys have been evident since before the start of the 2024 season. The new uniforms, which first were introduced at the 2023 All-Star Game, have received a plethora of negative feedback from the players and consumers of the product, including see-through sweat stains and smaller printing on the nameplates.
After the backlash, the MLB is setting a new initiative in motion to address the concerns. Here are the latest changes coming to the baseball jerseys.
MORE: MLB players express frustration over uniform issues
MLB jersey changes
The MLBPA sent a memo out to the players Sunday night addressing the changes coming to the jerseys, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported.
The most notable modifications coming to the apparel “include a return to larger lettering on the back of jerseys, remedying mismatched grey tops and bottoms, and addressing the new Nike jersey’s propensity to collect sweat,” per Passan. The changes will also “include fixes to the pants, widely panned this spring for being see-through.”
While the process to fix these errors has started, there is a chance that the player won’t see these changes until the beginning of the 2025 season at the very latest, according to Passan’s report.
In its memo, the MLBPA placed the blame on Nike — not Fanatics — for the poorly-received changes. Nike made the choice to debut its Vapor Premier uniform, which has received plenty of pushback from the players.
“This has been entirely a Nike issue,” the memo to players said. “At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated.”
The MLBPA warned Nike about issues with the changes, and the union also communicated with MLB on multiple occasions about the displeasure on the jerseys, per the memo.
“We cautioned Nike against various changes when they previewed them in 2022, particularly regarding pants,” the union memo said. “MLB had been, and has been, aware of our concerns as well. Unfortunately, until recently Nike’s position has essentially boiled down to — ‘nothing to see here, Players will need to adjust.”
Nike and Fanatics did not respond to ESPN’s request for comment, while the MLB and MLBPA declined to comment on the matter.
MORE: Why John Sterling is retiring from Yankees broadcast booth after 36 years
MLB jersey controversy
Players and fans got a sneak preview of what to expect out of the uniforms before the 2024 season began. Even then, the changes garnered a negative reaction, and it has gotten only worse.
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
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
The new look to the workout whites and home #stlcards jerseys. No chain stitching of the name on the jersey tail, either. Color red looks a new shade.
“I don’t like them,” says a veteran pitcher.
They’re different for sure. pic.twitter.com/VFcEx5kANN
— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) February 13, 2024
“They look cheap,” one Cardinals player said before the season.
“I don’t like them,” another Cardinals pitcher said.
“I know everyone hates them,” Trea Turner told the Associated Press.
The issues only escalated once the jerseys were put into game action. The pants were see-through, any sort of sweating resulted in massive stains on the uniforms and the small lettering on the back was not received well either.