After facing months of complaints from fans and players, Nike is expected to make changes to its new Major League Baseball uniforms by the start of the 2025 season. The memo from the MLB Players Association revealed that Nike will be returning to larger lettering on jersey tops and bringing back previous tailoring options, seam stitch count, and higher-quality zippers on pants that were in place in 2023. Nike is also working on solutions for teams with mismatching gray uniforms and sweat stains showing through jerseys. The memo pointed out that the issues with the uniforms were entirely a result of Nike’s unnecessary innovations.
While the memo does not directly confirm a commitment from Nike, it updates players on progress towards making changes. It clarifies that the Nike Vapor Premier fabric and general jersey design will remain in place, but adjustments will be made to address player and fan concerns. The new Vapor Premier uniforms, introduced this spring after the 2023 All-Star Game, faced criticism for various design and fabric quality issues. Players had issues with the small lettering on the back, pants fitting process, and fabric feel, while fans noticed sweat stains, different tones in road grays, and seam blowouts in the pants.
The MLBPA blamed Nike for the uniform issues and continued to support Fanatics, the manufacturer of the uniforms. Fanatics has been making MLB uniforms without issue for the past eight years and has a strong partnership with the players union. The memo highlighted Fanatics’ commitment to soliciting player feedback and having open conversations about uniforms and other products. The hope is that Nike will follow a similar approach to ensure that player concerns are addressed moving forward. Despite the ongoing challenges with the uniforms, MLB and MLBPA declined to provide further comment on the situation.
Overall, the changes to the MLB uniforms for the 2025 season aim to address the complaints and issues raised by players and fans regarding the Nike Vapor Premier design. By returning to larger lettering, previous tailoring options, and higher-quality zippers, Nike hopes to improve the overall fit and feel of the uniforms. While some elements of the Vapor Premier design will remain, such as the fabric, specific adjustments will be made to ensure a better overall experience for players and fans. The memo serves as an update on the progress towards resolving the uniform issues and highlights the importance of player feedback in future uniform design decisions.
