Padres Players Have Mixed Reactions to New City Connect Jerseys

The San Diego Padres unveiled their City Connect 2.0 uniforms, drawing a range of responses from the team.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 11:23pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a Padres baseball player in their new City Connect 2.0 jersey, with the jersey design as the focal point and the player's face and body broken down into abstract geometric shapes in navy blue, orange, and white.The Padres' new City Connect 2.0 uniforms, which celebrate San Diego's Latino heritage, have drawn a range of reactions from the team's players.San Diego Today

The San Diego Padres unveiled their new City Connect 2.0 jerseys on Thursday, which feature a design that pays homage to the Latino heritage of the city. While some players like Jason Adam and Jackson Merrill expressed excitement about the new threads, others like Manny Machado had a more mixed reaction, saying the jerseys were 'alright' but looked better when worn on the field. The new uniforms also drew praise from manager Craig Stammen, who saw them as a throwback to the team's blue and orange color scheme from his early days with the Padres.

Why it matters

The Padres' City Connect jerseys are an important part of the team's efforts to connect with the diverse San Diego community. The new design, which incorporates elements like La Catrina to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos, reflects the city's Latino heritage and culture. Player reactions provide insight into how the team feels about these special uniforms and whether they resonate with the players who will be wearing them.

The details

The Padres unveiled the City Connect 2.0 jerseys on Thursday, which feature a design that intertwines the Latino background of San Diego into the uniform. The patch on the arm includes La Catrina, a direct homage to Dia de Los Muertos. While some players like Jason Adam and Jackson Merrill expressed excitement about the new look, Manny Machado had a more mixed reaction, saying the jerseys were 'alright' but looked better when worn on the field. Manager Craig Stammen saw the uniforms as a throwback to the team's blue and orange color scheme from his early days with the Padres.

  • The Padres unveiled the City Connect 2.0 jerseys on Thursday, April 10, 2026.

The players

Manny Machado

A star player for the San Diego Padres who had a mixed reaction to the team's new City Connect 2.0 jerseys.

Jackson Merrill

A Padres player who is 'excited' to wear the new City Connect 2.0 uniforms.

Jake Cronenworth

A Padres player who is excited to see fans wearing the new City Connect 2.0 jerseys, but also expressed an affinity for the team's inaugural City Connect threads.

Jason Adam

A Padres pitcher who is a 'huge fan' of the new City Connect 2.0 uniforms.

Craig Stammen

The Padres manager who sees the new City Connect 2.0 jerseys as a throwback to the team's blue and orange color scheme from his early days with the club.

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What they’re saying

“They're alright. They're cool. We'll definitely see how they look when you're wearing it out. It's obviously different when you're taking pictures and no sunlight, no nothing, kind of just trying to be hidden. Definitely looking forward to see them on that yard.”

— Manny Machado, Padres Star

“Sick. Excited for our new jerseys, always exciting to put on something new.”

— Jackson Merrill, Padres Player

“It's gonna be cool to see all the new jerseys in the stands. Obviously, I am going to miss the old ones.”

— Jake Cronenworth, Padres Player

“Love 'em. They're awesome, so cool. They did a great job, as always. I think the fans, they're gonna love them, us players love them and hopefully we get a lot of wins in them.”

— Jason Adam, Padres Pitcher

“These new uniforms look great, takes us back to the blue Pad day. Back when I first started with the Padres, wearing the blue and then having the way back Wednesdays where we got to wear the blue and the orange. Very cool from that perspective and also cool in how it represents our city and our area.”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

What’s next

The Padres will debut the new City Connect 2.0 jerseys on Friday, April 11, 2026 when they take on the Colorado Rockies.

The takeaway

The mixed reactions from Padres players to the team's new City Connect 2.0 uniforms highlight the challenge of designing jerseys that resonate with both the players and the diverse San Diego fan base. While some players embraced the new look, others were more lukewarm, underscoring the importance of balancing team identity and community connection when creating special uniforms.