The Nationals are among seven teams participating in MLB’s City Connect program, and their uniforms have received an overhaul in response.
Their new jerseys, which the team will debut at Nationals Park on April 9, feature a deep gray with pink and ivory-toned lettering, as well as an illustration of a cherry blossom branch. The hats share the same color palette. Rather than the Nationals' customary script, the jerseys bear the block lettering WSH and the hats a blocky W.
Washington is also scheduled to wear the City Connect jerseys on April 10 and April 23.
Reliever Sean Doolittle, who is back with the Nationals on a one-year contract after playing for the Reds and Mariners last season, narrates a video posted by the Nationals on Twitter that explains the origins of the new uniform.
“For 17 years we have made the most of every winter and found hope every spring,” Doolittle says. “It’s time to wear that hope on our sleeve. To carry that pride on our backs. It’s time to show off why we blossom year after year. Here comes the bloom.”
In a news release, Nationals managing principal owner Mark Lerner said: “Washington D.C.’s cherry blossoms represent hope and new beginnings, making them the perfect symbol of this Nationals team. We’re excited to unveil these beautiful uniforms as the embodiment of our historic organization’s hopeful future as we lead the District of Cherry Blossoms celebration with our friends at the Wizards.”
The Angels, Astros, Royals, Brewers, Padres and Rockies will also sport City Connect jerseys this year. The seven clubs debuting new uniforms this year will join the seven that inaugurated the Nike program last year. All 14 teams will wear their special threads, which are intended to “celebrate the bond between each club and city,” by the end of the season.
The Nationals' new uniforms were created in collaboration with the Wizards, who next season will debut their take on what the Nationals called the District of Cherry Blossoms celebration. The partnership marks the first Nike uniform campaign uniting multiple teams from the same market around one theme.
(Photos courtesy of the Nationals)
What do fans think of the Nationals' new uniforms?
Maria Torres, MLB and prospects writer: The majority of the early returns on our favorite social media site are positive. The Nationals' tweet presenting different angles of the new uniform received more than 4,000 likes within an hour of it being published.
Many Twitter users seem ready to rush the Nationals team store and drop cash on the threads. But most of our early commenters here appear to think otherwise. The fan reception might be split.
Do you like them?
Torres: The color palette is refreshing, not gaudy (a lot of teams went way outside the box for their City Connect jerseys last year). The cherry blossoms are a sweet touch. I wasn't too sure at first if I liked Washington being abbreviated. But I think having Washington spelled out would make the jersey front look too busy. It's already pretty loaded with the outlined cherry blossoms in the background.
Anyway, Juan Soto seems to love them. I think that alone puts these uniforms in the W column.