MLB Players, MLBPA Addressing Complaints with Nike, Fanatics Jerseys for 2024 Season

Pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training brings optimism for a new season, excitement for better weather around the corner and, this year, complaints about the new jerseys in Major League Baseball.

Stephen J. Nesbitt of The Athletic reported Nike and Fanatics are "facing blowback from big leaguers and baseball fans alike" regarding the jerseys the former engineered and designed and the latter manufactured.

It has reached a point that the Major League Baseball Players Association is now involved after players complained to the union.

The topic first gained traction with the St. Louis Cardinals, as pitcher Miles Mikolas said the jerseys don't fit right and another player said "they look cheap," per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.

Jones pointed out players in general "are pretty unhappy" with the changes.

Andrew Joseph of USA Today noted MLB and Nike agreed to a 10-year deal in 2020, which is the same year Nike licensed its production to Fanatics. Yet there appear to be significant changes in this year's approach:

It remains to be seen whether anything will come from the MLBPA's involvement, but it is a storyline that has picked up steam going into a new season.