Afrigather MLB appears to be contemplating a change for future All-Star Video games that might be fairly well-liked among the many followers, and a few gamers as effectively.
Hours earlier than the 2024 All-Star Sport at Globe Life Subject in Arlington, Texas, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred held a Q&A with writers and stated that “there might be conversations” in regards to the potential return of particular person workforce jerseys on the All-Star Sport.
“I am conscious of the sentiment,” Manfred stated, in response to Evan P. Grant of The Dallas Morning Information.
From 1997 to 2017, MLB gamers wore their branded All-Star jerseys through the House Run Derby and All-Star Exercise Day, then switched to common workforce uniforms for the All-Star Sport. In ’18 and ’19, the branded jerseys have been solely seen through the Exercise Day, with common workforce jerseys worn through the Derby and Midsummer Traditional.
That every one modified in ’21.
Nike in ’19 agreed to a 10-year, $1 billion deal to turn into MLB’s official uniform provider. Starting with the MLB All-Star Sport in ’21—and ever since—the retail large designed jerseys to be worn through the All-Star Sport, with common jerseys worn through the Derby. Amongst different points with the Nike-designed uniforms, followers and pundits haven’t taken kindly to the change.
Manfred in ’22 defended the branded jerseys, saying “I by no means thought {that a} baseball workforce carrying totally different jerseys in a recreation was a very interesting search for us.”
However maybe Manfred’s stance is softening a bit as help for the return of workforce jerseys continues.
Most just lately, Philadelphia Phillies first baseman and two-time Nationwide League MVP Bryce Harper, who stated he loved watching the All-Star Sport with workforce jerseys rising up as a child, voiced his opinion for his or her return.
“If we may change again to that,” Harper stated on Monday, “I feel it might be actually cool.”
The 2024 MLB All-Star Sport will start at 8 p.m. ET, with Pittsburgh Pirates ace rookie Paul Skenes (6-0, 1.90 ERA) taking the mound for the NL in opposition to Baltimore Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes (9-4, 2.43 ERA) for the American League.
