Rarely is the biggest story in baseball entering spring training a fashion story.
Welcome to the 2024 MLB season.
As baseball drags into its second week of discourse surrounding new uniforms generated by Nike and produced by Fanatics, MLB Players Association executive director and former first baseman Tony Clark has weighed in on the controversy.
“It’s disappointing that we’ve landed in a place where the uniforms are the topic of discussion,” Clark said Thursday. “Each conversation with the guys is yielding more information with what we’re seeing.”
Scott Barlow welcome to Cleveland pic.twitter.com/fmGVQBJESR
— Andre Knott (@DreKnott) February 22, 2024
Clark cited player concerns with a variety of the uniform’s elements, including the look, the fit, and the highly transparent nature of the pants.
“A lot of the rhetoric is confirmation that the pants are see-through,” Clark said. “It’s been an ongoing conversation where each day has yielded something new that doesn’t seem to make as much sense as you would like it.”
Cal’s got jokes 😆 pic.twitter.com/rhrDgl6x8h
— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 21, 2024
Per an MLB spokesperson, the league, Fanatics and Nike are sending representatives to spring training camps to receive player feedback.
Opening Day between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres in Seoul on March 20 is just under a month away.