With the weather getting warmer and summer on the way, there's only one thing on the mind of every single person: Short shorts!
But I hear what you're saying: "This is baseball. There's nobody out there wearing shorts." And to that, I offer you Bill Veeck:
Or, if you would like things that have happened since 1976, the Reds' Jonathan India is here for you. As spotted by the sartorially gifted Productive Outs, India appeared in Monday night's game against the Dodgers in what are basically shorts:
Turns out, this is nothing new for India, who has routinely pulled his pants high above his knees to show off his socks. In fact, it's not just his socks, but what also appears to be some leggings or compression pants that continue above the sock line.
While he's not the first to hike his pants up higher than 99 percent of the players in baseball history -- Hunter Pence loved to do that, and Carlos Santana and Rougned Odor decided to go with the Elizabethan breeches at times -- he does appear to be the first to wear two different kinds of long johns under his baseball pants.
But that's not India's only stylistic claim to fame for the Reds. The rookie second baseman has fast become a fan favorite for some smooth defense in the field and his early-season heroics:
And then there's his long hair, headband and facial hair scruff. It's enough that people have noticed some remarkable similarities to Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow character from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" film series. The only thing he needs now is a little bit of eyeliner and a jug of rum to carry around. (I suppose he could swap out the booze for Gatorade, though.)
Compare that to his look while at Florida, and yeah, we've got a glow up.
It's been enough that Bally Sports Ohio's Jim Day -- you know, the one who once had a Jim Day gym day with Joey Votto -- has even coined a nickname that really needs to stick: Red Sparrow.
The job is now up to us, as baseball fans and nickname enthusiasts, to run with it. When India steps to the plate, make sure you turn to your loved ones and say, "Notice the short pants on the Red Sparrow?" And then, when they look at you quizzically, you can explain the whole thing to them. Or just send them this post.