BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Philadelphia Phillies’ shortstop Trea Turner was, much like the pants of Major League Baseball’s new and controversial uniforms, indisputably transparent.
“I know everyone hates them,” Turner said last week. “We all liked what we had.
"We understand business, but I think everyone wanted to keep it the same way, for the most part, with some tweaks here or there.”
Because of their poor fit, second-rate look and particularly the sheerness of the pants, Turner joined a chorus of players and fans who absolutely disapprove of the new Nike Vapor Premier uniforms, designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics at its facilities on Newlins Mill Road in Palmer Township.
“I see London, I see France … I can see right through your MLB pants!”Post on X
The new uniforms are aimed at keeping players cooler during summer months.
But many players complained about how sheer the uniform pants are, often leaving little to the imagination, particularly when wet or if the player is not wearing compression shorts under the pants.
A photo on the Internet taken from behind San Diego Padres catcher Luis Campusano clearly shows his backside through the sheer pants.
One post on the social media site X spoke for legions of baseball fans:
“I see London, I see France … I can see right through your MLB pants!”
Another poster wrote: “These are see-through pants. How did Major League Baseball allow this to happen?”
Striking out with players
Fanatics representatives declined comment, and Nike didn’t respond to an email sent to its media relations office, the Associated Press reported.
On Friday, LehighValleyNews.com's efforts to reach representatives at Fanatics' Palmer Township facility were unsuccessful.
Nike has designed MLB uniforms since 2020 and Fanatics has manufacturing them since 2017, but this is the first year for the Nike Vapor Premier jerseys.
“The look of it is like a knockoff jersey from T.J. Maxx.”Unidentified player from the Baltimore Orioles
Major League Baseball’s partnership with Nike and Fanatics runs through 2030.
Major League Baseball Players’ Association Executive Director Tony Clark said Tuesday there was “frustration” over the jerseys and that the players’ association is looking to see if there can be any adjustments made to them.
League officials say the new uniforms improve mobility by providing 25% more stretch and also will dry 28% faster.
The lettering, sleeve emblems and numbering are less bulky in an attempt to make uniforms more breathable and comfortable.
However, the new uniforms are striking out with many players.
“The look of it is like a knockoff jersey from T.J. Maxx,” an unidentified player from the Baltimore Orioles told The Baltimore Banner last week.
'Going to be negative feedback'
Fortunately for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs and teams throughout Minor League Baseball, the message is: Nothing to see here.
According to Sam Jellinek of the IronPigs’ media relations department, the Pigs wear uniforms manufactured by Rawlings.
“I’m glad we will not be dealing with any issues with our uniforms,” Jellinek said. “I know there are many players [in the majors] who don’t like the new uniforms.”
When the IronPigs hold a specialty event, such as a Salute to Philly Night at Coca-Cola Park, the uniforms they wear are made by OT Sports, of Burlington, North Carolina, Jellinek said.
“The jerseys are different. They’re designed to be performance wear as opposed to what has traditionally been worn. So they are going to be different, but they have been tested more extensively than any jersey in any sport.”Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred
As for the furor over Major League Baseball’s new uniforms, Commissioner Rob Manfred said he expects criticism to fade.
“In baseball, any new initiative, there’s going to be some negative feedback,” Manfred said Thursday.
“First and most important, these are Nike jerseys. So we entered this partnership with Nike because of who they are and the kinds of products that they use. Everything they’ve done for us so far has been absolutely, 100% successful across the board.
“The jerseys are different. They’re designed to be performance wear as opposed to what has traditionally been worn. So they are going to be different, but they have been tested more extensively than any jersey in any sport.”
Getting some support
Not all players have complained about the uniforms. MLB rolled out video testimonials this week from players, including Atlanta outfielder and reigning National League MVP, and St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“It’s almost like wearing my favorite fitted T-shirt out on the field — so easy to move around in."St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado
“It’s almost like wearing my favorite fitted T-shirt out on the field — so easy to move around in,” Arenado said.
But as players started wearing the uniforms this week as Spring Training began, complaints intensified.
“Don’t fix what’s not broken,” Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm said. “The looks of it, it just looks different. The names are smaller on the back.”
Angels outfielder Taylor Ward said the jerseys look like a replica.
“It feels kind of like papery,” he said. “It could be great when you’re out there sweating; it may be breathable. But I haven’t had that opportunity yet to try that out.
“But from the looks of it, it doesn’t look like a $450 jersey.”
Angels reliever Carlos Estévez was in a tizzy over the new threads, complaining that the color shades didn’t match and laughed at the spacing and shrunken nature of the lettering on the back of the jersey.
Years in the making
While the debut of Major League Baseball’s uniforms is new, the changes have been six years in the making.
The plan was to introduce the new uniforms in 2023, but the coronavirus pandemic caused it to be pushed back a year,
The league gathered input from clubs and players to optimize the jerseys for the best performance possible.
“They cheaped it — cheap, cheap, cheap all the way down. The quality has just gone out the window and I think that’s unfortunate.”Padres’ pitcher Rich Hill
Back in Spring 2018, the league began working with Nike and Fanatics on the uniforms, which had been manufactured by Majestic since 2005.
The exhaustive process of making wholesale changes to the jerseys wasn’t taken lightly; in fact, the process was as detail-oriented as any in the league’s history.
Last spring, all players were measured and fitted by Fanatics’ team, an annual exercise that ensures proper-fitting uniforms for the upcoming season.
With the Nike uniforms debuting this year, Fanatics also used those 2023 fittings to create a database for all players, giving them a head start on this season.
The league-wide endorsement baseball, Nike and Fanatics was hoping for has not materialized.
“They cheaped it — cheap, cheap, cheap all the way down,” Padres’ pitcher Rich Hill said. “The quality has just gone out the window and I think that’s unfortunate.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
