MLB Planning Changes to Uniforms Amid Criticism From Players, Per Report

Karl Rasmussen | Apr 28, 2024

A detail view of Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle's jersey / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Major League Baseball intends to make changes to its uniforms following the abundance of complaints received by both players and fans, the MLBPA informed players via a memo on Sunday, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Those changes are due to land by the beginning of the 2025 MLB season, at the latest, per the report.

The main alterations coming to the uniforms include bringing back larger lettering on the back of jerseys, correcting grey bottoms and tops that were mismatched and also addressing the jerseys "propensity to collect sweat." Additionally, players' pants will also return to using a higher quality zipper.

In the memo, the MLBPA informed players that the issue with uniforms was strictly the responsibility of Nike's Vapor Premier uniform, saying that the company "was innovating something that didn't need to be innovated."

BREAKING: The MLB uniform fiasco of this spring is finally being addressed, according to an MLBPA memo obtained by ESPN:

"Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated.”

Details of the coming changes, timing free and unlocked at ESPN: https://t.co/4CQuaCuRgc

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 28, 2024

"We cautioned Nike against various changes when they previewed them in 2022, particularly regarding pants," said the MLBPA in the memo, per ESPN. "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.'"

Criticism of the uniforms has been widespread and fans and players alike have been outspoken with their distaste for the changes that were adopted this spring. In particular, much has been made of the seemingly low quality pants, which drew criticism from MLBPA President Tony Clark, who called them a "universal concern" during the spring.

Just one month into the 2024 MLB season, the league is already making preparations to remedy the issues that came as a result of the modifications to its uniforms.