Royals Lobbied MLB, Nike for Special Exception to New Uniform Standard

This explains why the new Kansas City uniforms look different from those of other MLB teams.

The MLB's new uniforms, designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics, have been a source of frustration among players for differences in the lettering and numbering, as well as the see-through nature of the pants. 

But one MLB team found a way to remedy one of the issues with the new threads. 

The Kansas City Royals worked with the MLB and Nike, which changed the lettering on the jerseys to a smaller size, to maintain the full-size lettering on their team jerseys, according to Paul Lukas of UniWatch. 

As Lukas notes, other MLB teams were not granted this exemption from the smaller letters—the Royals were because they had "lobbied hard" for it.

Royals players Diego Hernández and third baseman Maikel García pose during Kansas City spring training :: Jayne Kamin-Oncea/USA TODAY Sports

Nike created the new jerseys with a lighter fabric, which has made larger numbering and lettering more difficult, leading some players to call the smaller numbers and letters “amateurish.”  

In a statement that denied any alterations to the pants, MLB confirmed the changes to the jersey's fabric. 

Representatives from MLB, Nike and Fanatics have been tweaking the jersey size, waist, in-seam, thigh fit and the bottom of the pants based on feedback from players during spring training.

However, it seems there is little that can be done to alter the numbering and lettering size to players’ liking.  

It begs the question: Why didn't more teams lobby for changes like the Royals did?