Here's Why MLB Players Are Using Colorful Bats and Wearing Cartoon Numbers This Weekend

The last time MLB staged a Players' Weekend in 2019, it was monochromatic. It's back in 2024 and will be a stark contrast with a flood of color.

Players' Weekend makes its return this season, and it'll bring character and personality to the basepaths in new ways.

Players' Weekend Theme Days

Each day of Players' Weekend is themed differently. Friday is deemed fun day, Saturday is deemed cause day, and Sunday is apprecation day.

Here's how the MLB laid out the importance of each day:

Fun (Friday): This will be a time to show off players' personalities, friendships and off-field interests.

Causes (Saturday): The focus this day will be on players' favorite charity and community efforts.

Appreciation (Sunday): Players will celebrate the people who helped them in their journey to the big leagues.

In all, a great mix of players showcasing who they are and platforming important people and causes. Who wouldn't love that?

Players Weekend Equipment Changes

There will be a few altered looks to the uniforms and equipment that players use during Players' Weekend 2024, many of which are similar to years' past. However, since the last time the MLB held this special weekend, some of the equipment rules have been relaxed in general, so things like custom cleats are no longer exclusive to just this weekend of the year.

Why Players Have Cartoon Numbers on Hats This Weekend

Hats will feature patches of cartoonish numbers of players on the right-hand side. Fans who like them can buy them from the league shop. It doesn't appear that the numbers signify anything in particular about any one given player, but are more meant to be expressive of the youthfulness of athletics in general. Notably, Players' Weekend is taking place in concert with the kickoff of the Little League World Series this weekend. The Yankees and Tigers will play a professional regular season game (the Little League Classic) exclusively for Little League fans and their familes in Williamsport, PA.

Why Some Players Have Colorful or Custom Bats This Weekend

Players are permitted to use custom bats this weekend, where the league temporarily widens its restrictions on paint finishes for bats (normally restricted to fairly neutral wood-based). Already, we've seen some cool ones, like these, with more to surely debut all weekend:

✏️ It might be Summer, but Ernie is ready for school this #PlayersWeekend! pic.twitter.com/2iDYRZJXRI
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 16, 2024

Jackson Merrill has a glow-in-dark Star Wars lightsaber bat for #PlayersWeekend 🤯 pic.twitter.com/WgQIDwa4ne
— MLB (@MLB) August 16, 2024

Players' Weekend Schedule: Schedule of Every game

Home Team	Away Team	Time (ET)	Day	Channel
Cubs	Blue Jays	1:05 p.m.	Friday	Apple TV+
Reds	Royals	6:40 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, BSKC, BSOH, ESPN+
Pirates	Mariners	6:40 p.m.	Friday	Apple TV+
Phillies	Nationals	6:40 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv MASN2, NBC 10
Tigers	Yankees	6:40 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, YES, BSDET
Rays	Diamondbacks	6:50 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, ARID, BSSUN
Orioles	Red Sox	7:05 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, NESN, MASN
Mets	Marlins	7:10 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, BSFL, SNY
Rangers	Twins	8:05 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, BSNO, BSSW, MLBN
Astros	White Sox	8:10 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, NBCSCH, SCHN
Brewers	Guardians	8:10 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, BSGL, BSWI
Cardinals	Dodgers	8:15 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, SNLA, BSMW, MLBN
Rockies	Padres	8:40 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, SDPA, COLR
Angels	Braves	9:38 p.m.	Friday	MLB.tv, BSSE, BSW
Pirates	Mariners	1:05 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, RSNW, SNP, MLBN
Tigers	Yankees	2:10 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, YES, BSDET, MLBN
Cubs	Blue Jays	2:20 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, Sportsnet, MARQ, MLBN
Rays	Diamondbacks	4:10 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, ARID, BSSUN, MLBN
Mets	Marlins	4:10 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, BSFL, SNY
Phillies	Nationals	6:05 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, MASN2, NBCSP
Reds	Royals	6:40 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, BSKC, BSOH
Orioles	Red Sox	7:05 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, NESN, MASN
Rangers	Twins	7:05 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, BSNO, BSSW
A's	Giants	7:07 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, NBCSBA, NBCSCA
Astros	White Sox	7:10 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, NBCSCH, SCHN
Cardinals	Dodgers	7:15 p.m.	Saturday	FOX
Brewers	Guardians	7:15 p.m.	Saturday	FOX
Rockies	Padres	8:10 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, SDPA, COLR
Angels	Braves	9:38 p.m.	Saturday	MLB.tv, BSSE, BSW, MLBN
Mets	Marlins	12:05 p.m.	Sunday	Roku
Orioles	Red Sox	1:35 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, NESN, MASN, MLBN
Pirates	Mariners	1:35 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, RSNW, SNP
Phillies	Nationals	1:35 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, MASN2, NBCSP
Reds	Royals	1:40 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, BSKC, BSOH, MLBN
Rays	Diamondbacks	1:40 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, ARID, BSSUN
Astros	White Sox	2:10 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, NBCSCH, SCHN
Brewers	Guardians	2:10 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, BSGL, BSWI
Cardinals	Dodgers	2:15 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, SNLA, BSMW
Cubs	Blue Jays	2:20 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, Sportsnet, MARQ
Rangers	Twins	2:35 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, BSNO, BSSW
Rockies	Padres	3:10 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, SDPA, COLR
A's	Giants	4:07 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, NBCSBA, NBCSCA
Angels	Braves	4:07 p.m.	Sunday	MLB.tv, BSSE, BSW
Tigers (Neutral site)	Yankees (Neutral site)	7:10 p.m.	Sunday	ESPN