Change is not always a good thing. Just ask the majority of MLB players that are struggling to get comfortable in their new uniforms.
Nike signed a 10-year deal with Major League Baseball that took effect in 2020 to become the official supplier of the league’s uniforms. The sports company partnered with memorabilia, sports apparel and online retail company Fanatics to create the perfect new uniforms for big leaguers. Unfortunately, the initial feedback has been brutal from players and fans. Some players are unhappy with the jersey material and fabric. Others are complaining about the new design elements. A recent article from ESPN highlighted the see-through pants as another major issue for players.
In a recent X post from Front Office Sports Today, Paul Lukas of UniWatch addressed the criticism and defended Fantatics role in process.
“It was not Fanatics who decided to change the fabric of the jersey. It was not Fanatics who decided to move the Major League Baseball logo. It was not Fanatics who decided to make the player name lettering smaller,” said Lukas. “Most of them are Nike issues.”
From the material to the design, MLB’s new uniforms have been on the receiving end of criticism from fans and players.
Paul Lukas (@UniWatch) says Fanatics isn’t solely to blame for the changes.https://t.co/b0aasQnrkQ pic.twitter.com/ff5F17YOrw
— Front Office Sports Today (@FOS_Today) February 27, 2024
Lukas works with UniWatch that is described as “a media project that deconstructs the finer points of sports uniforms, logos, related topics,” according to their website.
Nike stated to The Athletic that they had “worked closely with MLB players, teams and the league” with the goal of creating uniforms that “are lighter and more flexible.”
Paul Lukas went on the say that there is a lack of communication from Nike which he finds frustration considering this has become such a talking point prior to the MLB season.
