MLB Desperately Defends New Jerseys After Rampant Nike/Fanatics Criticism

Major League Baseball has heard the media reports, player comments and fan criticism about the league's new on-field jerseys. And they are clearly not happy. 

MLB.com reporter Mark Feinsand put out a thinly-disguised press release on Wednesday giving more background into the process behind the new Nike jerseys players will wear for the 2024 season. And while it all certainly sounds good from MLB and Nike's perspective, there are still plenty of questions to be answered. Despite the league's deflections and purposeful decision to ignore certain criticisms.

Fanatics has also received some of the blame, though it had nothing to do with designing the jerseys, just manufacturing them based on Nike's specifications.

READ: New MLB Jersey Problems Are The Fault Of Nike, Not Fanatics | Mike Gunzelman

The league defended the process, with MLB Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Products Denis Nolan saying that Fanatics has been manufacturing the jerseys for several years.

"In acquiring Majestic and its MLB uniform manufacturing facilities in Easton, PA -- which have been making player uniforms for nearly two decades -- Fanatics has consistently produced world-class uniforms, including every Nike-branded MLB on-field jersey and all City Connect gear since 2020," Nolan said.

So how did Nike get its design so wrong then? For example, on many larger players, the new letters and numbers look comically small. The front numbers on new 6-foot-8 Los Angeles Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow are laughably small compared to previous years.

Glendale, Ariz. - Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow throws batting practice during spring training at Camelback Ranch on Feb. 17. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Faces Player Revolt Over New Jerseys

Yet according to the article, "More than 300 players underwent body scans during the latter months of the 2018 season, as Nike observed the way players were wearing jerseys."

"It was a very technological approach to outfitting players," said Stephen Roche, Vice President, MLB Authentic Collection/Global Consumer Products. "Everything was performance-driven."

They also claim that the initial response to the jerseys, even with their "thinner body" and "lighter fabric for the numbers" was overwhelmingly positive. 

"Using all of the feedback it had collected," Feinsand wrote, "Nike created a jersey that was well-received by players, complete with lighter fabric for the numbers, letters and patches – a necessity due to the performance-driven material and the thinner body of the uniform. Gone were the days of thick, embroidered letters, numbers and patches, replaced by sleeker and more efficient options."

Another claimed benefit is that colors are more accurate across different products.

"That was all part of the tightening up of the entire process," Roche said. "Clubs were able to approve how everything matched Nike’s standard colors. For the first time, we had a uniform where all the colors matched exactly with the hats and the on-field colors. They had always been close, but they weren’t exact. Now they are."

The new template was also worn during the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle, providing an opportunity for players to test out the jerseys in a game setting.

Seattle - National League catcher Elias DIaz of the Colorado Rockies reacts after hitting a 2-run home run against the American League during the 2023 MLB All Star Game at T-Mobile Park. Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

So why do they still hate them so much? 

Traditional Uniforms Changing Dramatically

There are a few major issues that keep getting brought up by players; small lettering on the back of the jerseys, and the lack of customizable options.

As seen in the photo above, the All-Star jersey names in 2023 didn't appear to be significantly smaller than the previous template. They certainly are now. 

Los Angeles - Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtan wears a No. 17 jersey at introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

And now, as they're being seen on the traditional jerseys, not specifically created ones for the All-Star game, the changes are much more apparent. And more frustrating.

There's also now a lack of customization options in both pants and shirt fits. For years, players have been able to get their pants tailored to their liking, something that has apparently now disappeared. The fabrication may or may not be to blame, but that's not going to help assuage doubts.

The new, supposedly lighter numbers also don't have the same three-dimensional texture to them as the embroidered set used to. The league defended the change as being more performance-oriented, but it sure doesn't make the new style look as premium as the old one. 

Players union officials have said they're bringing their concerns to Nike and MLB, but based on this response, the league doesn't seem too interested in hearing them.