Let’s be real: when Nike and MLB first dropped the City Connect program back in 2021, half of us thought it was a brilliant way to actually make baseball cool for a younger crowd, and the other half thought it was an absolute eyesore. Remember those Boston ones? The yellow and blue "Marathon" kits that looked nothing like the Red Sox? People lost their minds. Fast forward to now, and we’re officially into the "Version 2.0" era.
The 2025 City Connect jerseys are basically a giant reset button. After finishing the first cycle of all 30 teams (well, almost all of them—we’ll get to the Yankees in a second), MLB decided to start over with the teams that kicked this whole thing off. If you’ve been following the leaks and the on-field debuts, you’ve noticed the vibe has changed. It's less "random colors that don't match the team" and more "let’s actually lean into local history."
The Eight Teams Going for Round Two
This season, eight specific clubs are ditching their first-generation City Connects for something brand new. We’re talking about the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, San Francisco Giants, Colorado Rockies, Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Boston Red Sox.
It’s a massive logistical swing. Honestly, it’s also a bit of a gamble. Some of these original designs, like the Nationals’ cherry blossom look, were legitimate hits. Fans actually liked them. So why change? Basically, Nike’s contract and the league’s thirst for fresh merchandise revenue mean the cycle has to keep spinning.
Why the Nationals Traded Flowers for Blueprints
The 2025 Washington Nationals City Connect is a wild departure. They retired the pink cherry blossoms—which, frankly, were the gold standard of the first wave—and replaced them with the "District Blueprint." It’s a denim-colored jersey that literally depicts the street grid of D.C.
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You’ve got an interlocking "DC" logo on the chest that hasn't been seen since about 2010. It feels more "industrial" and less "tourist at the Tidal Basin." Is it better? That’s debatable. But it’s definitely more aggressive.
The White Sox and the Bulls Crossover
Then you’ve got the Chicago White Sox. They went in a direction no one really saw coming: a full-blown crossover with the NBA's Chicago Bulls. Both teams are owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, so the corporate synergy is strong here. The jersey is red with black pinstripes, featuring a "CHICAGO" wordmark that looks like it belongs on a 1990s Michael Jordan jersey.
It’s the first time we’ve seen an MLB team blatantly rip the aesthetic of an NBA team for a City Connect. Some fans think it looks like a jersey you'd find at a discount rack in a suburban mall. Others think it’s the hardest look in the league. There’s no middle ground on this one.
The Design Shift: Music, Mountains, and Space
If there’s a theme for the 2025 City Connect jerseys, it’s "Storytelling 2.0." Designers are getting weird with it, but in a way that feels more connected to the actual dirt of the city.
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- San Francisco Giants: They moved away from the "fog" theme (which mostly just looked like a printer ran out of ink) and leaned into the Bay Area's musical history. The font on the chest is wavy, almost like a lava lamp, paying homage to the 1960s Summer of Love and the psychedelic rock scene.
- Houston Astros: The "Space City" vibe is still there, but the 2025 version features "STROS" across the chest with "tequila sunrise" shooting stars. It feels like a mix between their 1970s throwbacks and a futuristic NASA jumpsuit.
- Colorado Rockies: For their second act, they went with a sunset theme. These are actually the first City Connects to use a "pullover" style jersey rather than the traditional button-down. It’s a nod to the 1980s style, and the colors transition from purple to orange, mimicking a Rocky Mountain dusk.
The Great Yankees Holdout
We have to talk about the New York Yankees. They are still the major holdout. While 28 teams are now onto their second version, the Yankees (and the Athletics) still haven't touched the program.
Hal Steinbrenner has been pretty vocal about this. He’s basically said there haven't been "serious conversations" about changing the pinstripes. The Yankees are the ultimate traditionalists. They don't even put names on the backs of their home jerseys, so a neon-colored "The Bronx" jersey is probably a bridge too far for that front office.
As for the Athletics? They’re in a weird limbo. Since they moved to West Sacramento for the 2025 season while they wait for their Las Vegas stadium to be built, they don’t really have a "city" to connect to right now. They did release a gold alternate with "Sacramento" on it for 2026, but it’s not an official Nike City Connect. It's just a "we're here for now" jersey.
What Fans Get Wrong About the "4+1" Rule
There’s a lot of confusion about why some teams keep their old City Connects and others don’t. MLB has a "4+1" rule—teams are generally allowed four jerseys plus one City Connect.
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However, teams like the Red Sox and White Sox are keeping their original City Connects as regular alternates while introducing the new ones. The Red Sox yellow jerseys are now their road alternate, replacing the old navy blue tops. This is a clever loophole to keep the best-selling merch on the shelves while still participating in the new reveal cycle.
Real Talk: Is the Quality Actually Better?
Last year, the big story wasn't the design; it was the "Fanatics/Nike" jersey fiasco. Tiny lettering, sweat stains that made the jerseys look two-tone, and pants that were... well, transparent.
For the 2025 City Connect jerseys, Nike claims they’ve made adjustments. They’ve brought back some of the larger lettering and tried to fix the moisture-wicking issues. If you're planning on dropping $150+ on one of these, check the stitching on the nameplates. The "heat-pressed" look is still the standard, which some purists hate, but the 2025 batches seem slightly more durable than the disastrous 2024 launch.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're looking to grab one of these, don't just jump on the first reveal. Here is how to actually navigate the 2025 jersey landscape:
- Wait for the "On-Field" Look: These jerseys almost always look better (or much worse) under stadium lights than they do in a photoshopped press release. The Arizona Diamondbacks’ purple and teal combo, for instance, looks way more vibrant in person than in the static leaks.
- Check the Rotation: Most teams only wear these for Friday or Saturday home games. If you’re buying a ticket specifically to see the new threads, check the team’s "Uniform Schedule"—most clubs post these on their social media a month in advance.
- The "V1" Clearance: If you actually liked the first generation (like the Rockies' license plate jersey or the Marlins' Sugar Kings red), buy them now. Once the 2.0 versions are fully integrated, the original stock is being moved to clearance racks at places like Fanatics or the MLB Shop.
- Sizing Matters: The 2025 "Vapor Premier" chassis fits differently than the old Majestic jerseys. They’re more athletic and "tapered." If you like a baggy fit, you've got to size up. No questions asked.
The City Connect program isn't going anywhere. Whether you love the "Fenway Greens" or think the "District Blueprint" looks like a pair of dad jeans, these jerseys are the new reality of the sport. They represent a version of baseball that isn't afraid to be a little bit loud and a lot bit commercial.
Go ahead and check the official MLB reveal calendar for the specific dates your team is scheduled to debut their new look. Most of these are timed for holiday weekends or mid-summer rivalry series to maximize the "hype" factor. Just make sure you're ready for the pinstripe purists to complain on Twitter the second the first pitch is thrown.