Ranking the best and worst of MLB's new City Connect jerseys, from Braves baby blue set to Reds pinstriped look

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Apr 9, 2026 - 23:30
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Ranking the best and worst of MLB's new City Connect jerseys, from Braves baby blue set to Reds pinstriped look
Ronald Acuna

Ranking the best and worst of MLB's new City Connect jerseys, from Braves baby blue set to Reds pinstriped look originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Since 2021, MLB franchises -- in conjunction with Nike -- have turned the baseball diamond into a catwalk, traipsing down the basepaths in the finest furs.

These alternate looks, crafted to capture the essence of the cities that make up MLB's map, have proven a godsend of sorts. All 30 big-league sides have gotten makeovers in the years since the City Connect jerseys' 2021 inception. In 2026, eight franchises introduced their second City Connect looks: the Braves, Orioles, Reds, Royals, Brewers, Pirates, Padres and Rangers.

Which franchise wins out in the battle for closet supremacy? And whose fashion choice floundered under the glistening sun? Here's a look at the best and worst from this year's City Connect collection.

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Ranking MLB's new City Connect jerseys for 2026

1. Braves

The Braves' latest look is steeped in nostalgia. Their threads are eerily similar to the furs they draped during the 1980s. The Dale Murphy-led side only qualified for the postseason once during the decade. But it had style, dancing across the diamond in powder blue attire.

Forty years on, the memory of that regalia still lingers. The cursive "Atlanta" lettering that sprawls across the chest is alluring. So too is the "ATL" letter sleeve patch, written in similar script to the old TBS logo.

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2. Royals

The Royals opted for subtly with their newest City Connect number, adorning the white outfit with a color gradient that shifts from purple to blue. The gradient is more than aesthetic -- its a nod to the city of fountains logo City Hall embraced in 1991. "Hey Hey Hey Hey" paints the collar, referring to The Beatles' cover of Little Richard's "Kansas City."

These wrinkles are thoughtful and unique. Perhaps Kansas City could have taken greater risks with its look. But the new logo is a solid one.

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3. Rangers

The Rangers honored its home state's Mexican origins with its City Connect selection, decking the kit in Cochineal, better known as "Mexico's red."

The indigenous influences don't end there for Texas. "Tejas" stretches across the chest, a Caddo word meaning "friend." The sleeves and pants include piping that mimics the embroidery found on the Rangers' house mariachi band, Mariachi de Los Texas Rangers. All told, Texas has a decent look with an interesting story.

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4. Pirates

Pittsburgh's uniform features a certain ruggedness. Perhaps it's the script, which looks like it could be used in a grunge or shoegaze show. Apparently, the base of the font is a nod to The Three Sisters bridges. We don't quite see it. But I'd expect to see this kit do serious numbers in Portland, Seattle or Brooklyn (specifically Bushwick).

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5. Reds

The Reds' City Connect selection is...red. The franchise opted to try out pinstripes and actually sports a darker red on the sleeves -- a reference to the vest style Cincinnati tried out some two decades ago.

Pinstripes can captivate the masses. But they just don't hit as hard when masked by a deep and dark red. The throwback "C" logo is a nice touch. But it feels like the Reds could've added some finer details to pull things together.

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6. Orioles

Camden Yards is one of the best ballparks in MLB. Understandably, the Orioles attempted to pen a love letter for their home ground.

However, their latest City Connect effort falls a little flat. The "B" on the cap is undoubtedly cool, a nod to Baltimore's 1890s roster spearheaded by John McGraw, Joe Kelley and Dan Brouthers. But the block script is too large and the black sleeves are a bit of an eye sore.

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7. Brewers

The Brewers' City Connect kits look like Italy's World Baseball Classic look. That's not a good thing. Ultimately, this looks like a Nike throwaway, just like a great many of their WBC kits. Two thumbs down.

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8. Padres

Do you know the "She's so crazzzzzzzzy! Love her!!!" meme? The Friars' City Connect look is an embodiment of it. Putting "San Diego" in spray-paint like font is not that interesting. The Dia de los Muertos pattern on the sleeve looks wonderful. But that's the only saving grace for this kit.

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