Breaking Down the Best and Worst Jerseys of Spring Training

MLB players aren't out to make fashion statements; however, we at Bleacher Report enjoy analyzing every aspect of spring training. 

Games in February and March feature each organization's take on a bold and lightweight jersey. Some uniform designs are neither original nor flashy and are quickly brushed aside by most baseball fans.

In other cases, spring training uniforms can be a huge triumph or an unfortunate eyesore.

The following 15 jerseys fall under one of those two categories.  

Best: Kansas City Royals

Take what you will from the Royals' 4-0-1 spring training start, but the 2013 season is off to a good start for the boys from K.C.

They're looking aesthetically sharp, too.

The nice balance of bold royal blue and clean white in their spring jerseys is easy on the eyes. I'm especially a fan of the cap design with the white front and blue lettering and a blue backside.

Simple, yet effective.

Worst: Cleveland Indians

The Indians brought back the same jerseys they wore last spring featuring a navy blue top with red down the sides and an in-your-face print of "INDIANS" on the front.

Where the uniform goes wrong this year is in the hat, reversing the blue and red color palette from last year's hats. The primarily red caps just don't seem to fit with the rest of the jersey. 

Daisuke Matsuzaka may not fit with the team either—or any team for that matter.

Best: San Francisco Giants

The Giants do Halloween colors right.

I didn't know one could make the color black bold until the Giants whipped out these jerseys this spring. Something about the lighter shade of orange with the extra bold black just mold together to form a perfect spring jersey.

It may be hot wearing nearly all black in Arizona, but two World Series rings in three years is a fair trade-off. 

Worst: San Diego Padres

While the half navy blue, half white hats are sleek, using a dull silver as the alternate color on the jerseys was a poor decision.

The uniform, especially the writing across the chest, is mundane. 

Where's the camouflage?

Best: Chicago White Sox

The White Sox used the same spring jerseys they wore last year, which is also their first alternate jerseys during the regular season.

I like the "Sox" logo on the left breast and the updated hats with the white brim is a nice touch. Balancing off the jersey with the player number on the right side was a smart move as well.

Black and white never looked so new.

Worst: Arizona Diamondbacks

There are positives and negatives to the Diamondbacks jerseys. 

Despite my hatred of snakes, the curve of the snake to create the "D" on the left breast is quite clever.

However, I haven't been a fan of the new color scheme used by the D-backs since their switch from the original blue and teal during the days of Luis Gonzalez.  

Best: Oakland Athletics

Other than a different material, the A's spring jerseys are essentially their first alternate jerseys during the regular season.

That being said, I love the full green tops with accent yellow down the sides. Not to mention the old-school decal on the caps. 

I wish teams chose bolder away jerseys rather than opting for a grey version of their home suit. NFL and NBA teams do it. Why not MLB?

Worst: Los Angeles Angels

The Angels used the same jersey they wore in 2012, and, to put it gently, it's a sorry excuse for a uniform.

The straightforward "A" on the left breast surrounded by a halo is the only feature, red is the only color used and it's painfully unoriginal.

In addition, what's with the blue brim?

Best: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds' spring jerseys are similar to those of the Diamondbacks, but the bold red and deep black juxtapose very nicely together. 

The black hat featuring a red brim and throwback logo is a major upgrade over last season's cap model.

Worst: Pittsburgh Pirates

If there is one team that should stick to the accepted white home jerseys and grey away jerseys, it's the Pirates. 

Too much of certain colors can be overwhelming, and yellow is one of them. Unfortunately, the Pittsburgh brass has yet to learn this lesson.

The black hats are a nice counter to the bright jerseys yet not quite enough to make the whole getup a winner.

Best: Baltimore Orioles

Some may try to use my previous argument about the Pirates' jerseys against me concerning the Orioles, but I like the Birds' take on orange and black.

Again, I like the color combination, and it's balanced nicely between the jersey and the hat, both using the two colors. 

Similar to a few other teams, the Orioles used the throwback logo on the hat, which is both a cool look and marketable to fans. 

Worst: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers are using their away jersey design this spring, which is unoriginal in and of itself.

Furthermore, they took a risk with a white hat and it flopped.

Does anyone understand why it's there? I certainly don't. Maybe a blue backside to match the brim would have added a fresh touch.

Best: Miami Marlins

The Marlins, entering their second season as a Miami affiliate, are utilizing their first alternate jersey as their spring uniform.

The traditional all-black hat that goes with the jersey was upgraded to feature a orange brim.

The Marlins, despite their depleted roster, look fresh in their full-logo jerseys.

Worst: Houston Astros

While it's a smart decision to return to the Astros colors used up to the 1994 season (orange and navy blue), the design of the spring jerseys could have used some more thought. 

They feel a bit chaotic with the bi-colored hats and multi-colored jerseys. The yellow and orange palettes running down the sides of the navy blue jerseys was a good idea but were poorly executed.

There may be a bit of trial and error for the new AL Astros in 2013. 

Best: Washington Nationals

It's fitting that the red, white and blue encapsulates the team from our nation's capital. 

Overall, the Nationals' spring jersey is fairly simple—the "W" logo on the left breast of a red jersey with navy blue down the sides.

What truly makes the Nats stand out is the cap: a white front with a red-stitched logo, a blue backside and a red brim.

Very classy.