MLB Uniform Rollout Faces Pants Shortage as Nike Struggles to Meet Demand
The rollout of Nike’s new MLB uniform this spring has hit a snag – a pants shortage. As players arrived at the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse, they were greeted with white and gray baseball pants on their lockers. However, due to the shortage, some teams are reusing pants from previous seasons. The Reds have even instructed their players to wear their old pants for the rest of spring training.
MLBPA executive director Tony Clark expressed his concern about the shortage, stating, “The universal concern is the pant.” Nike, the official uniform supplier for MLB, responded to the complaints by saying that they are working closely with the league and players to address the issue.
Despite Nike’s statement, widespread complaints about the new uniforms continue. Clark revealed that the negative feedback is not centered around a single issue but encompasses various problems such as see-through pants, design changes, inconsistent quality, and fit issues.
One of the major issues is the lack of pants available for teams to distribute. Clark explained that some teams have pants and jerseys, while others don’t have any pants at all. This shortage poses a problem if players need replacements during spring training or before the regular season begins.
Nike began its 10-year contract as MLB’s official uniform supplier in 2020. Fanatics, which manufactures the uniforms, has produced Nike’s jerseys since 2020. However, they declined to comment on the current situation.
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred defended Nike and its new uniform, stating that he believes they will become popular once players wear them for a while. Nevertheless, players and coaches are still resorting to wearing old pants, either by choice or necessity.
In previous years, players could request customizations during spring training and receive tailored products a few weeks before Opening Day. However, this year, requests for specific alterations have been rejected. Instead, players are sorted into four body types based on body-scanning conducted by Nike and Fanatics. They are then given three options for fit and five different pant openings. While Nike will adjust sleeve and pant length, they will not tailor specific areas.
Players like Padres starter Joe Musgrove are still waiting for their new pants. Musgrove hopes to receive them by Opening Day but acknowledged that if they don’t fit right, players will have to deal with it.
Some players are concerned that if Nike cannot supply enough pants, they won’t be able to wear them during the weeks leading up to the regular season. This situation has led to frustration among players, with one calling it a “s—show.”
Reds catcher Luke Maile expressed his disappointment, not just for the players but also for the clubhouse attendants who have been left to deal with the mess. The attendants have been refitting players and searching through storage rooms for old pants to outfit the roster.
It remains unclear whether Nike will make changes to the uniforms before Opening Day. Clark stated that while some design changes are understandable, the pant is of greater concern to most players. However, it is uncertain how quickly a fix can be implemented.
Despite the challenges, the Reds have found a workaround for the shortage by using their stockpile of old pants. They also wear red tops during spring training, so the old pants won’t clash with the new tops.
In the end, players like Maile understand that perfection is not expected, but they simply need pants to do their job and compete. They are willing to make it work with whatever they have.
The rollout of Nike’s new MLB uniform has faced its fair share of obstacles, particularly with the shortage of pants. While Nike and MLB work to address these issues, players and teams are adapting and finding ways to make do until a solution is reached.