Responding swiftly to the negative feedback on the new Nike Vapor Premier uniforms, MLB has taken a proactive stance to address the issue, as revealed in a memo obtained by ESPN on Sunday night.
The new jerseys, a redesign by Nike, were touted as superior products. However, they have been met with widespread dissatisfaction from many players, who have voiced their displeasure with the changes.
At one game earlier this season, it was suspected that Philadelphia Phillies superstar Bryce Harper wore last year’s version of his team’s jersey. This was noticeable because of the difference in the font size of his last name on the back of the jersey. The font size for MLB players’ names is much smaller in the new uniforms than last year.
Among the most common grievances about the new uniforms was the use of a see-through fabric, particularly in the pants. This design flaw became a subject of ridicule during this year’s Spring Training for MLB teams, echoing the players’ dissatisfaction.
According to the memo, the jerseys will be changed to address the concerns of MLB players, including larger lettering on the back of each player’s jersey, ESPN reported. Additionally, an issue involving mismatched gray tops and bottoms, commonly referred to as the road jerseys, will also be corrected. Also, a “higher-quality zipper” will be added.
Furthermore, MLB players claimed there was a recurring problem with the new jerseys’ propensity to collect sweat during baseball games, ESPN reported. According to the memo, that will also be fixed.
The MLB Players Association has squarely placed the blame on Nike for the mishaps with the new uniforms, a stance that underscores the seriousness of the situation.
“This has been entirely a Nike issue,” the memo to players read. “At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated.”
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“We cautioned Nike against various changes when they previewed them in 2022, particularly regarding pants,” the memo read. “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.’”
ESPN reported that the changes are expected to occur by “the beginning of the 2025 season” at the latest.
