A chest detail of the new Texas Rangers City Connect jersey at Globe Life Field’s Grand Slam Team Store in Arlington, TX, Thursday, April 9, 2026.
Juan Figueroa/The Dallas Morning News
The Texas Rangers’ new “Tejas” City Connect design is drawing attention—and dividing fans.
The Rangers unveiled their latest Nike City Connect uniforms on Thursday, a design the club says blends franchise tradition with a tribute to Mexican influence woven into Texas identity and the name the team represents.
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The uniforms feature a cochineal red base with “Tejas” across the chest, a nod to both the Spanish spelling of Texas and the team’s 1980s-era look. The design also draws on Mexican craftsmanship, including papel picado artwork on the sleeve, charro-inspired patterns tied to mariachi culture and a custom leather belt referencing vaquero tradition.
The team said in a statement the uniforms are meant to reflect “the Mexican influence woven into the state’s identity” and celebrate shared heritage.
“This year’s City Connect uniform reflects the strong Hispanic influences that have shaped Texas, with tributes to Mexican heritage and Rangers history,” said Jim Cochrane, the team’s executive vice president and chief business officer.
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The uniforms will debut April 24 at Globe Life Field and be worn during Friday home games throughout the 2026 season, along with select heritage-themed weekends.
Fan reaction: praise and backlash
Online reaction to the reveal was immediate — and sharply split.
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Some fans praised the design and cultural storytelling, with one writing, “These are about to go nuclear. I need the hat and jersey,” reflecting early demand for the new merchandise.
Others were more critical but still positive about the direction, calling it “a great nod to Texas’s history” and saying the new look is “much better than our previous Connects.”
But not all reactions were celebratory.
“I’m not sure what’s worse, the jersey or the song,” one commenter wrote, criticizing both the uniform and its promotional rollout.
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More pointed criticism centered on the “Tejas” branding itself. “We fought a war to be called Texas, not Tejas or anything of that nature. Remember the Alamo?” one user wrote, reflecting deeper historical sensitivities tied to Texas identity.
Another blunt reaction read simply, “Rangers forgot the Alamo,” underscoring frustration among some fans who felt the design conflicted with traditional state symbolism.
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Part of MLB’s City Connect experiment
The City Connect series, launched by Major League Baseball in 2021, encourages teams to reinterpret their branding through local culture, history, and identity, often producing designs that spark strong praise and criticism in equal measure.
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For the Rangers, the “Tejas” edition appears to be doing exactly that.
While supporters see a meaningful tribute to Texas heritage and Mexican cultural influence, critics argue the execution and messaging have opened the door to controversy.
As the uniforms prepare to hit the field, the debate over them is already in full swing.
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