Rockies players react to the new City Connect jerseys

The jerseys will make their on-field debut this evening

In case you missed it, the Colorado Rockies revealed the new City Connect jerseys last week. After three years of wearing the green and white “license plate” uniforms, the team decided to go in a completely different direction with their second iteration.

Photo by Kyle Cooper, Colorado Rockies

The official colors are psychic purple, cobalt blue, razor pink and laser orange, which is a stark contrast from the deep green and white of the originals.

Photo by Kyle Cooper, Colorado Rockies

Of course the internet has opinions about the uniforms, but what about the players who actually have to wear them?

The reactions varied.

“I like them,” said Ryan McMahon. “I think they’re meant to be loud like that. It’s kind of exciting. It’s fun for the city, so all good things.”

Brenton Doyle echoed McMahon, but he was a little more hesitant.

“They’re different,” he said. “They’re kind of loud — not necessarily my style, but I think they’ll grow on me.”

Colorado-native Kyle Freeland appreciated all the nods to the state, as someone who grew up in the area and knows the cultural nuances.

“I got a sneak peek at them later in the offseason as we got closer to spring training,” Freeland said. “My initial reaction was ‘cool and different,’ obviously representing the state very well with all the different colors and all the different meanings of everything that goes into it. I think it’s all very cool, especially as a Colorado kid as well.”

Colorado Rockies

When asked about their initial reactions to the jerseys, multiple players cited two things that they really liked: the blue color and the pullover style.

“I really like the baby blue,” said Ezequiel Tovar through interpreter Edwin Perez. “It’s what I like to use in a lot of my gear, so that’s my favorite thing about it. It matches perfectly.”

“I like the powder blue,” echoed Michael Toglia. “I’ve always thought that’s a cool color for a jersey.”

“I like the colors. It looks bright,” said Kris Bryant. “I’m a big fan of the baby blue, too. I love that they added that, and I think it’ll be cool. I’m curious to see how it looks when we’re all wearing them.”

“I like all the colors, with the yellow and baby blue,” said Germán Márquez. “It’s pretty nice.”

“I’m a fan of the pullover,” added McMahon. “I think the colors are gonna take a second for us to get used to, but they’re definitely cool.”

Colorado Rockies

While they have the potential to look hot on the field, it was not a warm first impression for the Rockies players, especially those who participated in the photoshoot after Rockies Fest in January.

“That (photoshoot) was freezing!” Doyle recalled. “I decided to go no-sleeves with it. I saw guys wearing sleeves and I was like ‘I want to show it off with no sleeves!’ and froze my butt off. Instant regret.”

“It was very cold!” echoed Tovar. “We were in Denver, and it was snowy when we did the photoshoot, as you kind of saw in the photos. It was not my favorite experience weather-wise, but I enjoyed the overall experience of doing the photoshoot with the guys.”

Most of the Rockies got to see the uniforms for the first time at Rockies Fest, but Freeland had to wait.

“They did everyone else during Rockies Fest, but I wasn’t at Rockies Fest so I did my photoshoot during spring training and then (another one) the other day in the clubhouse,” he said. “It was very cool. I got to put the uniform on for the first time, see how it fits and see how it looks on my body. They’re really good.”

But perhaps the cold photoshoot was a poetic way of putting the old license plate uniforms on ice. It’s a bittersweet moment for most of the players.

“Green’s my favorite color, so it’s really hard to see those ones go,” Doyle lamented. “I like those a lot, but it seems like there are some good reactions to the new ones, and, hopefully, they sell well and grow on a lot of people.”

“I really like the license plate ones,” said Freeland, “especially when we switched to the white pants just because it’s a little bit lighter and cooler, especially during day games. I thought the license plate ones were really cool, I thought we had one of the best City Connects in the league with that color, the license plates and everything.”

Photo by Kyle Cooper, Colorado Rockies

“I really like the green ones, but I’m sure I’ll really like these ones,” said McMahon.

Photo by Kyle Cooper, Colorado Rockies

But, of course, they’re excited for something new.

“I think the green ones were very beautiful” said Tovar. “You know, I think it’s a uniform that I enjoyed wearing. But these jerseys, I don’t think are far off (the license plate) one.”

“This one’s pretty nice,” said Márquez. “I like this one”

“I think the license plate ones are more relevant to Colorado,” said Toglia, “but I think the excitingness of the new blue and the pops of yellow and burnt orange in it is really exciting.”

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What are your reactions to the City Connects? Are you excited to see them on the field for the first time tonight? Let us know in the comments!