ANAHEIM -- The Angels will get to show off more of their individuality later this month when Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association launch the inaugural Players Weekend from Aug. 25-27, allowing all players to wear colorful, non-traditional uniforms with alternate designs.
• Players Weekend gear available at MLBShop.com
Players will have the option to have nicknames placed on the back of their jerseys made by Majestic Athletic, as well as to wear and use uniquely colored and designed spikes, batting gloves, wristbands, compression sleeves, catcher's masks and bats.
"It's pretty cool to try something new, see some of the personalities of the guys," shortstop Andrelton Simmons said. "It's going to be interesting to see a little bit of freedom. Guys are going to express themselves in a different way that you don't get to see very often."
Players will also wear specially designed caps by New Era, and unique socks from Stance. During pregame workouts and postgame interviews, they will wear T-shirts highlighting a charity or cause of their choice.
"The NBA does stuff like that," Cameron Maybin said. "I think it's to make the game more exciting for the fans. We'll see how cool the jerseys are. I'm sure it'll be fun to know what nicknames some guys choose. I like it. Something new is always good."
In addition to the nicknames, each player will wear a special patch on his sleeve showing the progression of a child evolving into a Major Leaguer. Under that logo is a white space, and every player will write the name of a person who they are grateful to for helping them advance their careers, such as family or a coach.

Manager Mike Scioscia said he plans to honor his parents by writing their names on his patch.
"Self-expression is part of our culture, so it's another form of that," Scioscia said of the event.

Game-worn Players Weekend jerseys will be auctioned at MLB.com/auctions with 100 percent of net proceeds donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation, a joint effort established in July 2015 by MLB and the MLBPA with an initial commitment of $30 million focused on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the U.S. and Canada.
The uniforms will first be worn by the Pirates and Cardinals during the MLB Little League Classic to be played in Williamsport, Penn., on Sunday, Aug. 20 during the 2017 Little League World Series. That game will take place at Bowman Field, home of the Williamsport Crosscutters, a Phillies affiliate in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League.
Here's a list of nicknames that some Angels are expected to sport on the back of their jerseys on Players Weekend:
• Michael Trout: "KIIIIID"
• Jose Pujols: "THE MACHINE"
• Andrelton Simmons: "SIMÓN"
• Cam Bedrosian: "BEDROCK"
• Martin Maldonado: "CASCAJO"
• Kole Calhoun: "KOLEMAN"
• Cameron Maybin: "SLIM"
• Ben Revere: "REVY"