(NEXSTAR) – Fans of Major League Baseball are pointing to an apparent problem with the players’ pants.
The MLB’s new Nike-designed uniforms for the 2024 season are already taking a bit of flak from players and onlookers, some of whom have complained about what they deems “cheaper”-looking material. But now, with spring training officially underway, fans are pointing out another issue.
“The pants of the new MLB unis for 2024 appear to be … somewhat see-through?” one Twitter user pointed out in a post featuring an image of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Another spotted the same issue in a post featuring images of Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Guardians and Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners in their new uniforms.
MLB officials have said the uniforms, which are manufactured by Fanatics, provide players with better mobility, with material that offers 25% more stretch and dries 28% faster than the previous uniforms.
The Nike Vapor Premier uniforms, as they’re known, took years to develop, according to the MLB.
“Nike Vapor Premier was first introduced during the 2023 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard in Seattle, and it has already received positive feedback from athletes,” the league claimed.
But some players feel otherwise. Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said “everyone hates them,” and Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm indicated that the uniforms are attempting to “fix what’s not broken.”
“There’s a look that they’re cheaper,” Dave Meluni, an associate teaching professor for Syracuse’s department of sports management, told the Associated Press.
Tony Clark, the union executive director of the MLB Players Association, told The Athletic last week that players were “frustrated” by the change. The same article also quoted L.A. Angels outfielder Taylor Ward, who said the uniforms look “kind of papery.”
Now, fans appear to be echoing those concerns — especially in the pants area.
“I see London, I see France… I can see right through your @MLB pants,” another critic wrote on Twitter, in a post containing an image of Shohei Otani of the Dodgers.
“Nah these see through pants lmaooo,” another wrote in response to images of the Detroit Tigers at a recent photoshoot. “How did MLB ever allow this to happen[?]”
Speaking last week, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred says he expects the concerns to die down with time. But Clark, of the MLB Players Association, hinted Tuesday that he’s working to push the MLB to fix the uniforms.
“Any time there’s change, there’s an adjustment period,” Clark said, per The Athletic. “Sometimes that adjustment period goes well, sometimes not so much. In this instance, there appear to be some misses that could have otherwise not been misses.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
