The new Nike Vapor Premier jerseys that teams are wearing this season have drawn widespread criticism for their cheap look and inconsistent quality.
After months of trying to find a solution, Major League Baseball and Nike announced that adjustments will be made to all uniforms beginning with the 2025 season.
The new MLB jerseys were manufactured by Fanatics in a partnership with Nike. However, Fanatics has received the brunt of the blame from the public due to their already poor reputation for lack of quality and issues in customer service.
To Fanatics’ credit, they have been receptive to player feedback regarding the new jerseys, which the MLB Players Association recognized, via Jeff Passan of ESPN.com:
The union also absolved Fanatics, the manufacturer of the uniform that has received the majority of public scorn for the uniform mess, saying the company “recognizes the vital importance of soliciting Player feedback, obtaining Player buy-in and not being afraid to have difficult conversations about jerseys or trading cards. Our hope is that, moving forward, Nike will take a similar approach.”
While it appears that Fanatics’ relationship with the union has improved, the same can’t be said for Nike, which has been criticized for their lack of transparency over the jersey changes.
Fanatics has manufactured MLB jerseys since 2017 and only began collaborating with Nike three years later. Nike signed a 10-year contract to become MLB’s official uniform supplier prior to the 2019 season.
“Player and Club feedback is extremely important to us,” MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “Together with Nike, we listened to our players and as a result, we are addressing their concerns.”
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 Clubs’ gray road uniforms, as well 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.
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