SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Fashion is a big talk in baseball these days.
Major League Baseball and Nike partnered up to introduce the new Vapor Premier jerseys earlier this year, and were designed "to improve mobility, moisture management and fit, while keeping sustainability in mind."
It's good practice to outfit the best baseball players in the world with uniforms considered at the utmost professional level. Instead, some see them as cheap-looking, thin and flimsy.
The Arizona Diamondbacks unveiled a new look for the 2024 season, but the uniforms had not been seen on the field until Spring Training.
The most notable difference -- numbers and letters. The height of the name bar was taller and had less of an arc than what's been introduced for 2024.
"I like the feel of them but I would say the letters are a little small," Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas said. "Other than that, they feel great. I can move pretty well in them, so no complaints on that. I would just say the letters are a little smaller than normal."
It's not just the Diamondbacks, either. Fans around the league feel like their teams' uniforms seem less authentic than what we've seen in the past.
If there's a silver lining, or in this case -- a teal lining, the D-Backs' Spring Training hats have been well-received by fans, noting how the bright teal complements the fierce snake logo.
Inside the clubhouse, reviews are mixed.
"We as players are very particular about how our uniforms fit," Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker said. "Look good, play good kind of vibe. Maybe it's our insecurities. I'm into it. I like the fresh look. I think the black is cool and the teal pops."
"When I first saw them, I was like, 'Man, that's too much,'" Thomas said. "It's growing on us. It's just the hats. We'll be all right. We don't have to wear them during the season."
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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