The new Nike Vapor Premier uniforms that teams will wear during the 2024 season have not been received well by many players and fans, putting MLB in a tough spot with less than a month until Opening Day.
One of the biggest complaints among fans is the smaller numbering and lettering on jerseys, which many believe gives them a cheap look. Players have also criticized the uniform pants for being easier to see through.
However, an MLB official said that the uniform pants have been largely unchanged, via Lindsey Adler and Andrew Beaton of The Wall Street Journal:
“The uniform pants have the same material and thickness as the uniform pants used last season,” a baseball official told the Journal on Friday. “There were changes to the fabric of the jersey, not the pants.”
While MLB confirmed that the pants are the same material and thickness from last season, the size and styling have been slightly altered. Moreover, the pants no longer are as customizable for specific fits and looks.
After receiving feedback from players, Nike and Fanatics are in the process of tweaking the size of the jersey and bottom of the pants to provide a more comfortable uniform for Opening Day.
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.
Nike signed a 10-year contract to become MLB’s official uniform supplier prior to the 2020 season.
Rob Manfred: new MLB jerseys are designed by Nike
Despite public perception, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred clarified that the new uniforms were designed by Nike and not Fanatics. Fanatics doesn’t have the greatest reputation among fans due to the quality of their materials, which led many to believe they were the source of the issues.
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