Major League Baseball, in partnership with the MLB Players Association, has announced official details regarding the upcoming "Player's Weekend," which aims to let players express themselves while connecting with their past in youth baseball.
The MLB has revealed that players across the league will be able to wear "nickname jerseys" during Player's Weekend, the newly created initiative that will be held from August 25th thru the 27th.
This also includes the New York Yankees who don't have any player names on the back of their traditional uniforms.
For instance, ESPN's Darren Rovell reports the following players will be sporting these nicknames on the back of their jerseys later this month.
"Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius will be "Sir Didi." Other nicknames already declared include Atlanta Braves second baseman Brandon Phillips ("Dat Dude"), Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista ("Joey Bats"), Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor ("Mr. Smile"), Pittsburgh Pirates outfielderAndrew McCutchen ("Cutch") and Yankees shortstop Aaron Judge ("All Rise")."
Nickname jerseys are something the NBA first experimented with back in 2014, and the MLB is also taking a page out of the NFL's playbook during Player's Weekend.
Similar to the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" week last season, which allowed players to wear custom cleats, the MLB will allow players to wear custom-designed flashy equipment, including batting gloves and bats.
Additionally, MLB teams will be wearing Little League-inspired alternate uniforms during Player's Weekend.
Per ESPN's Darren Rovell,
"Following the theme of the weekend's connection to youth baseball, the jerseys' right sleeves will have logos meant to symbolize the development of each player. The "evolution" patch has a blank space where players can write in someone they wish to thank who helped them get to the big leagues."
"MLB will auction off the jerseys on its website, with the proceeds going to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation."
Check out what the Player's Weekend unis will look like below.
