For the first time ever, the New York Yankees have an alternate uniform.
Major League Baseball approved the Yankees' navy blue batting practice jerseys for use during games, meaning they're now officially designated as the team's road alternate, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
The Yankees made the change after players proposed the idea to the team's higher-ups, sources told The Athletic's Brendan Kuty. Players suggested the team use the batting practice jerseys that read "New York" in gray font on the front for some road games, Kuty adds. The Yankees normally wear gray road uniforms.
Although MLB approved the Yankees' alternate jersey, the decision to use them isn't "imminent," and Hal Steinbrenner will make the final call after weighing many factors, a source told Kuty.
Players reportedly didn't suggest any changes for home games, where the team has worn its traditional, iconic white pinstripe uniforms with the "NY" logo on the left chest since 1936, or any tweaks to the usual road uniforms.
"I'm all about tradition, but we got a patch on our sleeves," Yankees captain Aaron Judge said Wednesday when asked about the alternates, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Judge was referring to a sponsored patch on the team's uniforms.
He added, "I think we'll always wear the pinstripes at home."
The Yankees remain one of two MLB teams, along with the Athletics, without a City Connect uniform. They're also the only team that doesn't have names on the back of their jerseys.
It's still not known when the team will debut the alternate look. The Yankees wore their standard road grays Wednesday against the rival Boston Red Sox.
