{"id":594565,"date":"2026-04-10T10:28:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/594565\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T10:28:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T10:28:34","slug":"whos-got-the-best-alternate-fit-in-mlb-ranking-new-2026-city-connect-uniforms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/594565\/","title":{"rendered":"Who\u2019s got the best alternate fit in MLB? Ranking new 2026 City Connect uniforms"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For at least a portion of the remaining MLB season, phrases like \u201cWisco\u201d and \u201cBMore\u201d will be as commonplace as frozen ropes and batting around. Welcome to the latest batch of City Connect jerseys that eight teams will wear this season.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2021, the City Connect initiative has seen Nike and MLB partner on uniforms that reflect the city and culture of teams. To date, 37 jerseys have been unveiled, with every franchise except the New York Yankees and Athletics having at least one jersey.<\/p>\n<p>We here at The Athletic\u00a0love a good uniform, and we\u2019ve weighed in on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/7076130\/2026\/03\/06\/wbc-baseball-uniform-rankings-2026\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the World Baseball Classic jerseys<\/a>, MLB\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/5560347\/2024\/06\/17\/mlb-city-connect-uniform-rankings\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">first batch of City Connect offerings<\/a>, as well as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/2629079\/2021\/06\/03\/mlb-road-grey-uniform-tiers-from-the-royals-to-the-rays-grading-baseballs-best-and-worst-road-unis\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">the best and worst road grey jerseys<\/a>. Now we\u2019re back to weigh in on the eight new City Connect uniforms.<\/p>\n<p>Our Johnny Flores Jr., Tyler Kepner and C. Trent Rosecrans came together to vote on their favorites. They individually ranked each uniform from 1-8 (1 being the best). Those totals were then averaged and ranked. Each writer\u2019s personal ranking will appear in parentheses next to their name.<\/p>\n<p>Here are their takes, plus the inspiration behind each uniform:<\/p>\n<p>8. Texas Rangers (Average score: 7.66)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184755 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260203BW_1256742_1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2048\" height=\"2560\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Wyatt Langford poses with the Rangers\u2019 new City Connect uniforms. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis year\u2019s City Connect uniform reimagines familiar elements of past Rangers looks while celebrating the Mexican influence woven into the state\u2019s identity \u2014 and into the name the team proudly represents.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Johnny Flores Jr. (7):\u00a0The Rangers clearly put a lot of thought into paying homage to the Latin culture of Texas, and it shows. Having a tertiary color would\u2019ve helped to break up the red, especially since the lettering is the same color. Putting \u201cTejas\u201d front and center is smart, though it\u2019s unfortunate that it comes a year <a href=\"https:\/\/ftw.usatoday.com\/story\/sports\/mlb\/2025\/03\/11\/texas-rangers-hat-tetas-new-era-controversy-explained\/82260435007\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">after a rather pitiful incident involving a now-pulled vulgar Rangers hat<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Tyler Kepner (8): I like the details on the edges of the sleeves, and I\u2019m a big fan of using Spanish words on jerseys, rather than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/suns\/gallery\/los-suns-through-years\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the lazy \u201cLos Suns\u201d kinds of designs<\/a>. But it always bugs me when the color of the letters matches the color of the jerseys. It just kind of sits there, flat. Also, the lettering here is too plain. This belongs on a discount rack in Walmart, not on an MLB field. Feels like a missed opportunity; they should have had more fun with this theme.<\/p>\n<p>C. Trent Rosecrans (8): The first version of the Rangers\u2019 City Connect was overthought, but this one feels underthought. The sleeves look cool, but other than that, it\u2019s a fun high school alternate uniform. It\u2019s inoffensive, but I almost want to put bets on whether more will be sold at Ross than at Academy.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260203BW_1267740_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7185491\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_1281410-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7185492\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-4-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7185493\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-5-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-7185494\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t7. Pittsburgh Pirates (Average score: 5.66)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7185528 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0415992_1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      SCOTTSDALE, AZ \u2013 FEBRUARY 02: Paul Skenes #30 of the Pittsburgh Pirates poses during the 2026 Nike City Connect shoot at on Monday, February 2, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Billie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cuniform embraces the city\u2019s unmistakable black and gold identity, celebrating a unified visual language shared across Pittsburgh\u2019s sports culture.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (4): The wordmark is very reminiscent of the logo of the <a href=\"https:\/\/logos.fandom.com\/wiki\/Spider-Man_(1994_TV_series)\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">1994 Spider-Man animated series<\/a> (you know, the one where he couldn\u2019t punch people). That\u2019s a good thing, because I absolutely adored that show. Ditching the PGH of the last City Connects and going all-in on the black and gold theme of Pittsburgh sports was smart. The one thing holding back this uniform set is the hat. In a perfect world, the visor of the hat would\u2019ve been gold and the crown black.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (6): The last City Connect rollout was heavy on the three-letter city abbreviation thing, and thankfully that\u2019s gone now from the PGH Pirates (and the MKE Brewers). The Pirates made the mistake here of not using a white outline on the wordmark, which keeps it from popping the way their regular black jerseys do. I hate the black pants and don\u2019t love the lettering, but it does fit with the pirate motif. I just wish they\u2019d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportslogos.net\/logos\/view\/7xkp9hnp9jq11e1zia4tdcqjh\/Pittsburgh-Pirates-Logo\/1967\/Primary-Logo\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">lured this scurvy rascal<\/a> off the high seas and onto the uniform. The Bucs haven\u2019t won a pennant since they let him set sail.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (7): Huge \u201cdog ate my homework\u201d energy with this one. Did they forget when the assignment was due until the night before? Let\u2019s change the font on our regular uniform! Done and done. Listen, I like the fact that all the Pittsburgh teams share a color palette, but this is a chance to actually do something different for once. At least it\u2019s 100 times better than the last one, though. (Gradients don\u2019t work, people.)<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-1-2-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7185531\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-3-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7185532\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0424227_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-2-7185533\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t6. Cincinnati Reds (Average score: 5.33)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184860 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260203BW_1368298-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Hunter Greene poses with the Reds\u2019 all-red City Connect uniforms. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cuniform evolves the energetic vibe established in the team\u2019s inaugural City Connect edition while embracing the color that defines the franchise.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Flores (5): Cincinnati deserves major credit for wanting to have all-red everything and sticking with it. The slight hints of black and white break it up just enough so that the club isn\u2019t running around looking like comic book characters, though I wouldn\u2019t totally be opposed to that either. Numbers on the front are always a win in my book as well.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (7): Look, it\u2019s way better than black lettering on a black jersey with a black hat and black pants. And it\u2019s nice to see the number aligned with the logo on the front of the jersey (looking at you, Royals). The subtle pinstripes work here, and the numbers look cool. But I\u2019m still not feeling that new wishbone \u201cC\u201d logo. And pairing this with red pants will make the diamond at Great American Ball Park look like a tomato patch.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (4): I mean, there\u2019s no false advertising here \u2014 the uniforms are red. There are five shades of red, to be exact. The pinstripes aren\u2019t black, but a darker red. The sleeves are a different tone from those two. Like the Reds\u2019 City Connect 1.0, the second edition is better looking in totality than it is in descriptions. As a Queen City resident, I can tell you that the city has embraced the black City Connects, which will continue to be worn on Fridays, and this one continues the look.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-2-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7185543\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-3-1-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7185545\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-5-1-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7185549\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260203BW_1371092_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-3-7185552\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t5. Milwaukee Brewers (Average score: 5.0)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184880 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_2141057-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Brewers All-Star Christian Yelich shows off the new City Connect uniforms. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cuniform is here to celebrate the entire Badger State, with details that honor the place the club calls home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (8):\u00a0Stop trying to make \u201cWisco\u201d happen. It just doesn\u2019t work. To me, this is an obvious downgrade from the Brewers\u2019 first City Connects.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (2): All this time, I thought Barrel Man <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/brewers\/fans\/mascots\/barrelman\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">was a designated hitter<\/a>, with a bat in his hands and a John Jaha\/Daniel Vogelbach build. The new City Connect sleeve patch shows the big fella\u2019s versatility \u2014 he\u2019s wearing a glove, snagging a grounder and smiling as he ranges across the entire rainbow-shaded state of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184887 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_2140814_1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      An in-depth look at Barrel Man. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>Details like that make this a winning design. I love the simple, elegant cap with the state outline behind a cool curvy \u201cW,\u201d and the wheat-and-barley braid for sleeve and pants piping is genius. I\u2019m not sure how much Wisconsinites really use \u201cWisco,\u201d but \u201cPHILA\u201d worked for Wilt Chamberlain\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bballjerseys.com\/warriors\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Philadelphia Warriors<\/a>, so I don\u2019t mind the abbreviation. It\u2019s a little too blue and white \u2014 which gives off a bit of a Royals or Dodgers vibe, considering the underlined script wordmark \u2014 but overall, this is terrific.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (5): What do the Brewers have against either of their actual names? The first City Connect had the tired \u201cBrew Crew\u201d on the jersey, and now \u201cWisco\u201d? I\u2019m sure it means something to people in Wisconsin (I mean, it has to, right?), but for the rest of us, it\u2019s just kind of weird. It feels like back in my day when our Little League teams were sponsored by local businesses and my Angels team had a light blue hat that said \u201cTidewater Feed &amp; Seed.\u201d But I\u2019ll give them credit for the lid \u2014 that\u2019s a sharp-looking hat and so much better than the eyesore of the MKE 414 combo.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_2178859_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-7185562\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-1-1-1-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-4-7185564\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t4. Kansas City Royals (Average score: 4.0)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184897 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0253852_1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Cole Ragans poses with the Royals\u2019 new City Connect uniforms. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The uniform \u201creflects who Kansas City is, what it stands for and the future it\u2019s committed to winning, while capturing the youthful energy of seeing a MLB field for the first time, feeling the Fountain Spectacular\u2019s spray and watching fireworks after a Royals win.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (2): Purple is such an awesome color, and it\u2019s a shame it rarely gets used in sports uniforms. Here, the Royals show how it can be used masterfully, blending the color with pink to form the underrated fuchsia hue. I love the subtle use of the crown. It\u2019s not as overbearing as it is in, say, Team Netherlands\u2019 WBC uniforms. The heart on the sleeve being a nod to Kansas City\u2019s place in the U.S. is a nice touch without getting too complicated, as these uniforms often do.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (4): This is a rare white-over-white City Connect design, and the more I look at it, the more it works. The cap logo, with a stylized crown, is strangely compelling; it looks like something from the mid-to-late \u201970s, when the Royals were really good. I\u2019m a little weary of the purple, which City Connect pushes with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.avclub.com\/breaking-bad-s-betsy-brandt-on-the-evolution-of-her-cha-1798233127\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the fervor of Marie from \u201cBreaking Bad\u201d<\/a> \u2014 we also see it with the Mets and Giants, when it really should be left to the Rockies and Diamondbacks. Even so, purple is a royal kind of color, and I love the heart sleeve patch, the shoulder stripes and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=4xvW-Nf9VAw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Beatles\u2019 call-out<\/a> (\u201cHEY HEY HEY HEY\u201d) on the inner collar.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (6):\u00a0I was all on board until the hat. The gradient on the jersey isn\u2019t great, but it kind of works \u2014 from Royal blue to the color of royalty. But the hat? Nope. No gradient on hats or helmets in football really work. It didn\u2019t work when the Jacksonville Jaguars did it and it doesn\u2019t work here. The Royals at least tried something and have a white jersey mixed with white pants. Those are all wins. The blue top, white pants softball uni ruined the last one. I\u2019m kind of digging this one (except for the lid, which pushed it down in the rankings for me).<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0264481_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-7185571\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-4-1-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-7185574\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-5-2-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-5-7185575\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss\/MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t3. Atlanta Braves (Average score: 3.0)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184976 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202_BW_MLB_CityConnect11636_R3-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. shows off the Braves\u2019 newest City Connect uniform. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cdesign is a nod to the club\u2019s classic 1980s powder blue uniforms, harking back to a time when Braves baseball was a national fixture in households across the country on the superstation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (3): The Braves have knocked it out of the park with both their City Connect offerings. It helps that they\u2019ve kept things simple by evolving previous uniforms and then working to pay homage to the city. That stands in stark contrast to other teams that are trying to create a new uniform that is also a tribute. If there\u2019s one thing that excites me the most about these uniforms, it\u2019s the accompanying merchandise that the color scheme and theme will lend itself to. Already, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.neweracap.com\/products\/atlanta-braves-2026-city-connect-color-block-windbreaker\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">this New Era windbreaker<\/a> is a must-purchase in my book.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (3): The City Connect concept would be great if every team followed Atlanta\u2019s lead. First, it was a stylish update to their uniforms of the late Hank Aaron era. Now, the early <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dalemurphyfoundation.org\/shop\/p\/power-alley-posters\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Dale Murphy era<\/a> gets its turn on the runway. From the V-neck to the Atlanta script, it\u2019s authentically Braves, dipped in nostalgia for the days when TBS billed them as \u201cAmerica\u2019s Team.\u201d The \u201cATL\u201d sleeve patch, rendered in the style of the old TBS logo, is a perfect touch. My only issues here are the \u201cQuikrete\u201d eyesore on the other sleeve and my general dislike of the oversized, bubbly lowercase \u201ca\u201d logo on the cap.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (3): For those of us who grew up in the 1980s, this is an instant reminder of the great Dale Murphy poster. I would\u2019ve hated it if it had ATL across the chest, but it works fine as a secondary symbol, especially with the Superstation tie-in. These, like their first City Connects, are fine. Boring, but fine. I mean, I get it, the Nike people had to do eight new ones this year, and sometimes you shoot for fine. Do I like a bigger swing? Sure, but this is a lateral move from their first one, and, like that one, it\u2019s not offensive. It\u2019s like a two-strike single. You\u2019ll take it, but it probably won\u2019t lead to a run. Elite cap, though, which pushed it up in the rankings.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-5-3-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-6-7185579\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_2180820-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-6-7185583\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_2230495_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-6-7185588\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\tT-1. Baltimore Orioles (Average score: 2.66)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7184984 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0545064_1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman poses with Baltimore\u2019s newest City Connect uniform. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cuniform brings the spirit of Baltimore\u2019s beloved stoops straight to the one place they all call home: Camden Yards.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (6): I really wish the front had anything but \u201cBMore\u201d on it, because, otherwise, this jersey ticks all the boxes of what the City Connect initiative can be. Up and down the uniform are several tributes to Camden Yards, from Eutaw Street to the brickwork down to the scoreboard. In a sea of blues, blacks and reds, it\u2019s nice to see green make the final cut. All in all, it\u2019s a really unique set that\u2019s brought down by the incessant need to coin words and phrases that don\u2019t exist.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (1): Like Boston\u2019s outstanding Fenway Park tribute jerseys, the Orioles did it right with this Camden Yards-inspired set. The sleeve patch is a delight, mimicking the little discs embedded on Eutaw Street for every homer that lands there. The dark green is a signature Camden Yards color, and the orange brick on the sleeves looks sharp. I\u2019d have perched <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/orioles\/history\/logos-and-mascots\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">a 1992-style bird<\/a> on the letter \u201cR,\u201d since that\u2019s when the park opened, but that is a minor quibble. And given the Orioles\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/baltimorefishbowl.com\/stories\/the-orioles-os-logo-is-messed-up-and-the-team-knows-it\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">enduring apostrophe catastrophe<\/a>\u00a0 on their \u201cO\u2019s\u201d cap, I\u2019m OK going hyphen-less in \u201cBMORE.\u201d All in all, a jersey that takes you back to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/news\/camden-yards-remains-a-gem-25-years-later-c222454558\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Rick Sutcliffe on Opening Day<\/a>, with a really fun 1890s \u201cB\u201d logo for the hat.<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (1): BMore? I wish there\u2019d be more letters. We had Cincy, Philly, CLE, PGH, WSH and The Lou (the worst). There are so many good things happening with this jersey \u2014 the oriole, the circle sleeve patch, the green and orange color scheme \u2014 that are just lost because all I see is \u201cBMORE.\u201d It\u2019s such a shame, because otherwise it\u2019d be an instant classic. The green is gorgeous, the hat is elite and the whole Camden Yards motif is spot on. I want this hat and I want it now.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202BW_0547422_1-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-7185594\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260204BW_0569179-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-7185595\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Orioles_CC_0005-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-7-7185598\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\tT-1. San Diego Padres (Average score: 2.66)<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-7185007 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/20260202_BW_MLB_CityConnect10434_R2-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\n      Jackson Merrill showcases the Padres\u2019 newest City Connect uniform. (Billie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cuniform is a continued celebration of the club\u2019s binational region, culture and traditions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flores (1): D\u00eda de los Muertos is a treasured holiday in the Flores household, so seeing it front and center of the Padres\u2019 City Connect uniforms is particularly meaningful. The navy color scheme is a bit reminiscent of those 2000s Padres, which isn\u2019t a bad thing, and the interlocking \u201cSD\u201d logo remains as one of baseball\u2019s best. Since their first City Connect, San Diego has been at the forefront of experimenting with different colors, and so far, they\u2019ve knocked it out of the park. Like I mentioned with the Braves, I\u2019m interested in seeing the merchandise that the Padres will cook up.<\/p>\n<p>Kepner (5): As someone who campaigned hard for the Padres to bring back the brown, I\u2019m wary of navy blue encroachment. That said, while the old sherbet-colored City Connects were fun, they looked like something from a coloring book \u2014 imaginative, but better left on paper. While I really don\u2019t like the white hats, this is an overall upgrade that looks more like a baseball uniform and fits into the Padres\u2019 visual tradition, evoking the style of <a href=\"https:\/\/padres.mlblogs.com\/great-games-3-padres-blank-the-braves-to-win-1998-nlcs-328fc04cb53f\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">the 1998 NL champions<\/a> \u2014 and you\u2019ve got to love the La Catrina sleeve patch. (Incidentally, the Padres have clearly studied those little shade swatches in the paint store \u2014 they call their new colors \u201cbone, obsidian, marigold, aqua, fireberry, and Padres gold.\u201d)<\/p>\n<p>Rosecrans (2): Please take note, other teams \u2014 embrace your city, don\u2019t feel compelled to make the city connect vastly different than anything you\u2019ve seen before and give us some bright colors. The Padres understand the assignment in ways those with ugly alternates (Pirates), plain (Rangers) or just lazy throwbacks (Braves) do not. The Padres made one of the better first City Connects and added another banger. The colors bring back thoughts of the blue and orange of the \u201990s Padres, but nowhere near as boring and generic as that look.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-3-3-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-8-7185603\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-4-2-1024x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-8-7185606\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nike-1-2-1-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-8-7185609\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\tBillie Weiss \/ MLB Photos via Getty Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"For at least a portion of the remaining MLB season, phrases like \u201cWisco\u201d and \u201cBMore\u201d will be as&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":594566,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[3960,3966,49,48,3983,474,493,462,509,477,82,3992],"class_list":{"0":"post-594565","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mlb","8":"tag-atlanta-braves","9":"tag-baltimore-orioles","10":"tag-ca","11":"tag-canada","12":"tag-cincinnati-reds","13":"tag-kansas-city-royals","14":"tag-milwaukee-brewers","15":"tag-mlb","16":"tag-pittsburgh-pirates","17":"tag-san-diego-padres","18":"tag-sports","19":"tag-texas-rangers"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=594565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/594565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/594566"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=594565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=594565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=594565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}