MLB announces changes to jerseys for 2025 after controversy
After a spring controversy, Major League Baseball announced uniform changes for the 2025 season that seek to address many of the complaints from players and fans alike.
According to MLB, the Nike-designed uniforms for 2025 will include larger lettering on the back and pants customization available to players, two of the biggest concerns from a saga that began early in spring training and drew responses from all the brands involved and the MLB Players Association.
“Player and club feedback is extremely important to us,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
“Together with Nike, we listened to our players and as a result, we are addressing their concerns.”
The new uniforms for this season were criticized for looking cheap, the nameplate and numbers for being too small and for pants that could be somewhat translucent.
Fanatics produced the uniforms for Nike, and fans were quick to point the finger at the sports merchandise behemoth. Fanatics founder Michael Rubin thought his company was being unfairly blamed.
“Nike designs everything. Hands us a spec and says, ‘Make this,’ ” Rubin said. “We have made everything exactly to the spec. And Nike and baseball would say, ‘Yes, you’ve done everything we’ve asked you to do.’ ”
Nike has had the MLB uniform contract since 2020.
“We will continue to work with Nike to make adjustments with the goal of delivering a uniform that looks good and helps MLB players perform at their best,” said Manfred.