MLB Responds To See Through Pants Controversy

Major League Baseball's uniform controversy refuses to go away.

It started with the jersey tops, which were mocked and ridiculed for a seemingly decrease in quality and in some cases, comically small letters and numbers. 

READ: Players And Fans Are Very Unhappy With The New MLB Uniforms

Prominent stars, including Trea Turner, expressed frustration with the new design, others described it as a knock-off replica, and some complained about the fit and finish, saying it paled in comparison to the previous fabrication. That prompted the league to assign one of its writers to defend the new jerseys by describing the testing process and praising them as technologically advanced.

READ: MLB Desperately Defends New Jerseys After Rampant Nike/Fanatics Criticism

But then things really got serious over the past few days, as more photos emerged of the players in their full uniform sets. When fans and observers noticed that the pants seemed very see-through. Like, really see through.

Even the head of the MLB Player's Union acknowledged it, saying every day there's "something new" that players don't like. "A lot of the rhetoric is confirmation that the pants are see-through," Tony Clark said according to ESPN. "It's been an ongoing conversation where each day has yielded something new that doesn't seem to make as much sense as you would like it."

And now the league has responded, and sure enough, it defended Nike yet again.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (left) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto pose for a portrait in 2024. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

MLB Claims Pants Haven't Changed

Lindsey Adler reported that MLB issued a statement on the pants, claiming that the fabric, material and thickness hasn't changed from 2023.

"The uniform pants have the same material and thickness as the uniform pants used last season. There were changes to the fabric of the jersey, not the pants," MLB claims, according to Adler.

But that doesn't quite stand up to scrutiny. There are some images from the 2023 season with the old pants fabrication where they do appear to be a bit see-through. Although there are others where the pants clearly look more opaque than they do this season. 

For example, compare the image of Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the photo studio in 2024 to one of manager Dave Roberts in the photo studio in 2023.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts poses for a portrait in 2023. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Clearly doesn't look the same.

Players themselves also say they notice a difference, and wouldn't they know best? 

All of this ignores the overall point though; MLB jerseys should not be the topic of conversation in spring training. There's some level of "all press is good press," but when the players are this unhappy and somewhat embarrassing news seeps through into the national sports conversation, the league can't be happy. 

Maybe just not as unhappy as the players.