Both Lee Jung-hoo and Kim Ha-seong Are Wearing Them?…13 Trillion Won Spent on 'Cheap Uniform' Controversy

Criticism That It Looks Like a 'See-Through Look'
US Nike and Fanatics Joint Production

The Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States is suffering from an unexpected 'uniform controversy.' The official uniforms are made from fabric so thin that they appear like a 'see-through look.' This is the first time a uniform quality controversy has arisen in MLB.

Lee Jung-hoo (left) and Kim Ha-seong (right) wearing Major League Baseball uniforms [Image source=Yonhap News]

The controversy spread through social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter). Some fans took photos of players during recent games, showing that the sweat-soaked uniforms clung to the players' bodies, revealing their body contours clearly.

Baseball fans claim that the new uniforms are made from excessively thin, 'cheap' fabric. One fan posted photos of New York Yankees players on X, complaining, "If you want to know how bad these uniforms are, just look at the players literally drenched in sweat."

The uniforms soaked with sweat reveal the contours of the players' bodies [Image source=Ex(X)]

The new MLB uniforms were designed and manufactured by the American sportswear brands Nike and Fanatics, respectively. Both companies are official uniform sponsors of MLB, with a 10-year contract from 2020 to 2030 worth $1 billion (approximately 1.34 trillion KRW).

Fans are particularly skeptical about the quality of Fanatics' uniforms. Although Fanatics is a major sports equipment manufacturer, it has been accused of effectively monopolizing the market and selling cheap products at high prices.

This dissatisfaction was also highlighted by the American public broadcaster PBS. The broadcast reported that the MLB uniforms are "very unpopular even among players," and quoted a player describing them as "like paper."

Shohei Ohtani (left) and Yoshinobu Yamamoto wearing newly designed MLB uniforms
[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

However, the companies that made the uniforms claim they invested cutting-edge technology to enhance players' athletic performance. Nike stated in a press release, "We worked closely with players, teams, and the league to create the most advanced uniforms in MLB history." The uniforms are softer and lighter than previous ones and were custom-made in four types?slim, standard, athletic, and muscular?after scanning the body shapes of 300 players.

Nevertheless, local netizens' reactions remain cold. On social media, sharp comments are pouring in, such as "trash uniforms," "looks like they patched paper together," "MLB made a mistake," and "they look worse than softball players' uniforms."