Nike’s MLB uniform rollout reaches new stage of frustration — a pants shortage

By Stephen J. Nesbitt, Patrick Mooney and C. Trent Rosecrans

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When players walked into the Cincinnati Reds clubhouse on Thursday morning, they found white and gray baseball pants on the chairs at their lockers. More pants were piled on a table in the middle of the room, and a message on a monitor above asked players to try them on. Doing so brought the familiar feeling of pulling on an old pair of pants.

Because that’s exactly what they are.

Among the numerous issues surrounding the rollout of Nike’s new MLB uniform this spring is a pants shortage. Some teams are reusing pants from previous seasons — made by Nike or Major League Baseball’s previous uniform supplier, Majestic — because they don’t have enough new Nike pants for all players and uniformed personnel. The Reds have told players to plan to wear their old pants for the rest of spring training.

“The universal concern,” MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said, “is the pant.”

Nike did not respond directly to questions but did provide to The Athletic its first statement since player complaints first surfaced last week.

“We always put the athlete at the center of everything we do,” the Nike statement read. “We worked closely with MLB players, teams and the league to create the most advanced uniforms in the history of MLB which are lighter and more flexible.

“The quality and the performance of our product is of the utmost importance to us. We will continue to work with MLB, the players and our manufacturing partner to address player uniforms.”

Through a spokesperson, Major League Baseball also issued a statement. “Like every Spring Training, Fanatics team services, Nike and MLB representatives are visiting camps to meet with all players, conduct uniform fitting sessions with them, and get their feedback on how their uniforms fits,” MLB’s statement read. “Based on player requests, adjustments are being made to jersey size, waist, in-seam, length, thigh fit and the bottom of their pants.

“The goal of these meetings is to provide players with the most comfortable uniforms available for Opening Day. We are in close contact with our Clubs and uniform partners to ensure Clubs have what they need for Opening Day.”

As Clark and officials from the players union make the rounds in spring training, they continue to hear widespread complaints. After meeting with Chicago Cubs players on Thursday morning in Mesa, Ariz., Clark acknowledged, “It’s disappointing that we’ve landed in a place where the uniforms are a topic of discussion.” Even the negative feedback on the uniforms does not center around a single issue.

“Each conversation with the guys is yielding more information,” Clark said. “A lot of the rhetoric (Wednesday) was confirmation that it appears the pants are see-through.”

Cal’s got jokes ???? pic.twitter.com/rhrDgl6x8h

— Seattle Mariners (@Mariners) February 21, 2024

But a broader issue — beyond the…