The debate over Major League Baseball’s new uniform rollout has reached a fever pitch, and now Los Angeles Dodgers ace Tyler Glasnow has weighed in with a surprising admission: he wants the old, custom-tailored jerseys back. And after seeing the Tampa Bay Rays’ new City Connect threads, you can bet he’s not alone in that sentiment.
Glasnow, appearing on Foul Territory Live, was surprised to learn that the MLB Players Association was even negotiating with the league over jersey improvements. “I had no idea that was even a thing,” he said. But once informed of changes potentially coming in 2025, his tune quickly shifted—from disinterest to a yearning for the days of personalized fits.
Tyler Glasnow thinks jerseys are ‘pretty bad’
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The 6’8 hurler is blunt in his assessment of the current jersey situation. “They’re not as good as they used to be… It’s where they used to have, like, those custom-tailored, like, you guys remember the Majestic or whatever. Now it’s… you get like three options. Everyone kind of looks a little sloppy,” he says. Glasnow acknowledges that the sartorial snafus aren’t as pressing an issue for pitchers, but he’s clearly on board with position players who might have more at stake when it comes to comfort and performance.
And then came the real kicker—the revelation of the new Tampa Bay Rays City Connect uniforms, a flashy design inspired by skateboarding culture and Florida beach vibes. News of those threads sparked an immediate reaction from Glasnow, who previously played for the Rays. It sounds like the jersey envy might be fueling his desire to return to the way things were.
The Dodgers right-hander isn’t the only one who’d likely welcome a uniform upgrade. A.J. Pierzynski chimed in during Tyler Glasnow’s interview to highlight the fit issues: “The way you’re pitching, you might want to keep it just the way it is; I don’t know.” The insinuation is clear: some guys might be getting a performance boost from the looser, less polished jerseys.
With players speaking out and fresh City Connect designs turning heads, it seems like only a matter of time before MLB takes a serious look at returning to a more customizable approach to uniforms. While players’ reactions to the City Connect series have been mixed, the designs and the clear dissatisfaction with the status quo are forcing a conversation the league might prefer to avoid. Let’s see how the saga of the sloppy jerseys unfolds; as of now, Glasnow has thrown his hat into the ring.
Players Weekend fun is out, and Glasnow is bummed
It wasn’t just the jerseys that had Tyler Glasnow feeling out of the loop. During the interview, he seemed genuinely surprised to find out that the fan-favorite Players Weekend will no longer allow players to choose fun nicknames for the back of their jerseys. “I thought that’s what the player weekend was,” he said in confusion.
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The disappointment was palpable. While Glasnow might not consider himself the most stylish player on the field, he clearly saw Players Weekend as an opportunity for a little extra self-expression, something that the new, more structured format seems to be eliminating.
A dominant performance from Tyler Glasnow. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SagOJFQ09A
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) April 21, 2024
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Erik Kratz, co-host on the broadcast, was quick to commiserate, describing the league’s decision as sucking the “fun meter” out of the event. The frustration was shared across the panel. The focus seems to be shifting to a combination of customized cleats and charitable causes, which Tyler Glasnow acknowledged were positive elements. However, the loss of the playful nicknames still clearly stung him and the other hosts. It appears that, for players, part of the joy of Players Weekend was the chance to showcase their personalities in a unique and lighthearted way.
The new direction for Players Weekend might resonate with fans who love to see their favorite athletes support worthwhile causes, but it’s a clear loss of the fun and relaxed vibe that used to define the event. Whether the shift will be a win for Major League Baseball is yet to be seen, but for now, it seems like at least one Dodger star isn’t really a fan.