Over the last two seasons, the Atlanta Braves have constantly needed to alter their iconic uniforms to conform to Nike's ever-adjusting template. What once seemed like a set that was reaching untouchable
In 2024, the Braves saw their wordmarks and last names shrunken, and their sleeve piping changed into a sleeve cuff. In 2025, the last names on the back were increased, but smaller wordmarks and sleeve cuffs remained.
While most Braves fans have begrudgingly accepted the changes, others have been hoping Nike would reverse course. When the Athletics revealed a new "Sacramento" jersey for 2026, it might have provided some hints for what the Braves jerseys could look like for next season.
The Athletics have revealed a gold Sacramento jersey for the 2026 season 👀 pic.twitter.com/2fkXFMo0NT
— MLB (@MLB) September 29, 2025
Athletics new jersey could mean changes coming to Braves uniforms
While most baseball fans who saw the Athletics new "Sacramento" jersey and rightly criticized the club's management and disastrous move from Oakland, eagle-eyed uniform enthusiasts immediately zeroed in on the sleeves.
When Nike introduced their new uniform template, all teams that had triple-striped sleeve piping were forced to move it down to the edge in the form of a sleeve cuff. The Braves were one of several teams forced into this change.
However, when the A's revealed their new alternate jersey, it featured a traditional triple-stripe piping along the sleeve, sitting roughly half an inch from the edge, much like the Braves old jerseys.
Although this could be an example of MLB and Nike using an old jersey template to unveil a new uniform, a snippet from uniform expert Bill Henderson's The 2025 Game Worn Guide to MLB Jerseys revealed that as of July 2025, his insider sources told him that the 2026 on-field jerseys "will return wholly to the 2023 configuration."
This doesn't guarantee that the Braves will revert back to the previous sleeve piping arrangement, it likely does imply that the team will return to larger wordmarks on the front of the jerseys. If the Braves do indeed modify their jerseys for 2026, it will be the third straight season the club has had to tinker with their iconic set because of Nike's failed MLB uniform template roll-out.