Padres Prepare to Retire City Connect Jerseys After Four Seasons

San Diego, California — The San Diego Padres will wear their pink-and-mint City Connect uniforms for the final time on Friday, marking the end of a four-season run for the brightly-colored alternates. The club will debut a new City Connect design next year.

The City Connect jerseys have been a unique feature since their introduction in 2022, as part of a collaboration between Nike and Major League Baseball. The designs aim to reflect the cultural aspects of each team’s home city. For the Padres, the vibrant colors were meant to represent life on both sides of the border and the local surf and skate culture.

Center fielder Jackson Merrill expressed his excitement about the changes, stating, “It’s always fun to get a new jersey … I think it’s going to look really clean.” Despite the popularity of the City Connects among certain fans, a 2022 poll showed that 84% of local readers preferred the traditional brown and gold Padres gear.

Some players embraced the unique look. Pitcher Joe Musgrove noted, “I like that it’s unique,” recognizing how the uniform design grew on him and other players over the years.

Critics, like Phil Hecken of Uni-Watch.com, described the look as “fun … whimsical,” while suggesting it might not be suitable for daily wear. Musgrove hinted that he had seen mock-ups of the new design and was eager for a more basic appearance.

The Padres’ City Connect uniforms will officially retire after Friday’s game, with details of the new design set to be revealed in the spring of 2026.