Major League Baseball has been embroiled in controversy for multiple months due to sweeping changes made to uniforms that are manufactured by Nike and Fanatics.
Fanatics has received the brunt of the blame from the public, but the Players Association recently praised the company for showing a willingness to accept player feedback.
MLB also criticized Nike for seemingly not taking any responsibility, but MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said the corporation has since reached out to team owners to apologize, via Evan Drellich of The Athletic:
“I think they appropriately took responsibility for the issues with respect to the new uniforms and the rollout of those uniforms,” Manfred said at the conclusion of the league’s spring owner meetings. “This was not the first time (Nike had done so), but it’s the first time the owners had heard this directly from Nike. They’ve been consistent with me about taking responsibility.”
Manfred added that Nike is committed to making the necessary adjustments to the uniforms:
Manfred also said Nike “reiterated for the owners their commitment to make sure that they got the uniforms right.” He said Nike went through its specific plans for 2025 to address issues with uniform lettering, pant customization, color differences and sweat stains, and the company “talked about some things that (its) done already from a remedial perspective.”
“I think it was a positive,” Manfred said. “It’s good to hear directly from the people involved. And again, great that Nike took responsibility for what’s happened.”
According to Nike, the high-performance fabric of the new template was made from at least 90% recycled polyester yarns and provides 25% more stretch and allows the jersey to dry 28% faster with moisture-wicking Dri-Fit ADV technology.
However, many players and fans were quick to point out the jersey’s cheap look and inconsistent quality.
Changes coming to MLB jerseys
Among the changes that will be made to the MLB jerseys next season include a return to larger lettering, as well as fixes to the pants that have been deemed as see-through by many players.
Nike is also working on a solution to address the slight color differences between the jerseys and pants of some of the clubs’ gray road uniforms, in addition to the discoloration that can occur due to perspiration in certain instances.
Once the solution is finalized, adjusted gray uniforms will go on field as soon as the second half of this season.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
