MLB: Top 5 Spring Training hats

Spring Training is underway for the MLB, and the league’s hat-maker, New Era, has released its yearly edition of hats for the preseason exhibitions.

New Era started doing specialized Spring Training hats back in 2013, when they introduced the “Diamond Era” hats.

These hats used a more breathable fabric and featured fresh color schemes for all 30 ballclubs.

This year, the company went with a floral theme for the hats, which also coincides with the team's playing location.

For teams in the Grapefruit League, the caps feature a blooming grapefruit plant, while teams in the Cactus League get a blooming cactus.

Both plants are embroidered next to the team’s logo.

The hats also feature side patches, for the Cactus League, the number 26 is written in a southwestern-style font, with a desert landscape in the background.

The Grapefruit League hats also feature the 26, with a Miami Vice-style number, and a palm tree in the background.

Under the brim, the hats indicate each team's camp location.

In the crown, both hats feature different landscape imagery based on the league the team is in: a more desert landscape for Cactus League teams and a Floridian landscape for the Grapefruit League teams.

Now, with the overview of the visuals on the caps, I’m going to rank my five favorites of all the teams in Major League Baseball.

1. Arizona Diamondbacks

Some people may not like teal, but I absolutely love it. The teal crown goes really well with the teal outline of the “A” logo on the hat.

The black brim also adds a nice contrast to the hat.

2. Miami Marlins

The Marlins have a similar color scheme to the D-Backs, but the crown is an electric blue rather than teal.

What gets me on this one is the use of the fish logo. I am a sucker for the full marlin over the “M” logo. I even owned a Florida Marlins hat back when I was younger because of the logo.

I’m also super excited that they are bringing the teal uniforms back as a throwback this season.

3. The Athletics

While the team’s move away from Oakland is still a controversial topic, what’s definitely not to me is their hats this spring.

I am a huge fan of the “A’s” logo being flipped yellow to match the crown's color. The green outline of the logo also really complements the blooming cactus plant.

The green brim is also a nice touch.

4. Milwaukee Brewers

If it isn’t already apparent, I love the color blue, and the powder-blue crown with the navy-blue brim fits so well.

What pushes this one over the edge for me among similar hats is the retro glove logo. The interlocking ‘m’ and ‘b’ coming together to make the glove shell is always one of my favorites.

5. New York Mets

As a Phillies fan, this physically hurts to give the Mets credit for literally anything.

However, I can be fair to the hats. I’m a huge fan of orange and blue color schemes, so they're already attractive to me. That’s not what gets me on this one, though.

The Mr. Met logo with the sunglasses is what gets me. I think that’s an elite touch.

That’s about as much positivity as I can give the Mets before I get sick.

Evan Pochas is a third-year student studying broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ejp5753@psu.edu.